Columbia Just Became the First US University to Divest From Private Prisons

Columbia University is the first US university to divest from the private prison industry—a move prompted by student activists. According to the school’s 2013 investment report, Columbia owned roughly $10 million worth of shares in two of the country’s biggest for-profit prison companies. Such companies guarantee shareholders certain occupancy levels and often are able to lengthen prisoners’ sentences in order to maintain those levels.

Columbia University is the first US university to divest from the private prison industry—a move prompted by student activists. According to the school’s 2013 investment report, Columbia owned roughly $10 million worth of shares in two of the country’s biggest for-profit prison companies. Such companies guarantee shareholders certain occupancy levels and often are able to lengthen prisoners’ sentences in order to maintain those levels. Read more about the divestment here.

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