[greeneggs]

The "complex" isn't just of private companies. In California, for example, the prison officers' union (California Correctional Peace Officers Association or CCPOA) is a major political power, and advocates for harsher sentencing rules. This article describes some of its political history [1], starting in the 1990s.

> "In 1994, it was a major force behind the passage of Proposition 184, California’s “Three Strikes” initiative. In the same election cycle, it spent a record amount on former Gov. Pete Wilson’s successful reelection campaign…"

Since 2011 it seems to have reduced its spending on elections. However, this article [2] says that in the 2016 election they upped their spending again, and suggests that they had been splitting "members’ contributions among a half-dozen or more PACS" to somewhat obscure their advocacy.

[1] http://capitolweekly.net/ccpoa-transition-powerful-low-profi...

[2] http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-wor...