PBS News Weekend

Last year, citing declining prison populations and safety concerns, the Obama administration announced the end of incarcerating people convicted of federal crimes in privately run prisons. But soon after taking office, the Trump administration reversed the decision, just as it was intensifying its crackdown on illegal immigration and pushing to preserve stiff sentencing practices like mandatory minimums. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said the government needs the flexibility and resources provided by private, for-profit prison companies. NewsHour Weekend's Ivette Feliciano reports on the debate over their performance at the federal and state level.