The overview begins with a review of the literature about private-sector prison industries to provide background information on the theories behind the origins of privatization in prison industries and continues with statistics on the status of prison industries. The Free Venture Model for prison industries is presented as well as three other models or roles that private-sector participants commonly assume which are: the customer; the controlling customer; and the employer. The various private-sector prison industry projects are then analyzed as to which models they fit. The benefits of employing prisoners are presented, and there is a detailed comparison of the FCI, Fairton project with State private-sector operations. The implications of Federal prison industries sales to private-sector government contractors are presented along with several changes which have emerged from the experience of private-sector involvement at the State level. The author concludes that presently the potential for private-sector involvement at the Federal level would seem to be greater for contracting for inmate services as opposed to the manufacture of prison industry products. 24 notes