A grim new statistic: One in every hundred Americans is now locked behind bars. But in this explosion of inmates, some private companies are seeing opportunity.

On Friday, May 9 at 8:30 p.m., NOW on PBS investigates the government’s trend to outsource prisons and prisoners to the private sector. While companies like Corrections Corporation of America say they’re doing their part to solve the problem of inmate overflow, critics accuse private prisons of standing in the way of sentencing reform, and sacrificing public safety to maximize profits.

NOW travels to Colorado, where the controversy is boiling over. Also, on NOW, check prison statistics in your state, and see a web-exclusive video about the rising number of immigrant detainees.