The passage discusses issues with the modern US prison system. It notes that the US currently has over 2 million prisoners, more than any other country. Private companies now invest in and profit from prisons, creating incentives to imprison more people to drive profits. Additionally, prisons often fail to rehabilitate prisoners and high recidivism rates suggest that the system is not effectively curbing crime. The author questions whether the prison system is achieving its intended goals given its enormous size, private interests, and lack of rehabilitation.