A private prison is a facility that is owned and operated by a private company rather than the government. These prisons are contracted by government agencies to house inmates, often with the goal of reducing costs and managing overcrowding in public prisons. Private prisons are funded through taxpayer dollars, and they typically receive payment based on the number of inmates they hold. Critics argue that this profit-driven model can lead to cost-cutting measures that may compromise inmate safety and rehabilitation efforts, while supporters claim they can provide more efficient management of prison populations.