https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/06/prisoner-populations-are-plummeting/683310/

“The principal political barrier to closing half-full prisons is the power of public-sector unions. In contrast, a private prison can be sent to its reward if its contract is canceled.”

This is a well reported piece

I suspect MAGA will reverse the decline. But still impressive. Demographics plays a role.