[pixl97]

?but I really don't see how private prisons could influence criminal justice system at the other end.

Then you aren't paying attention.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_for_cash_scandal

>Two judges, President Judge Mark Ciavarella and Senior Judge Michael Conahan, were convicted of accepting money from Robert Mericle, builder of two private, for-profit youth centers for the detention of juveniles, in return for contracting with the facilities and imposing harsh adjudications on juveniles brought before their courts to increase the number of residents in the centers.