Friends in High Places

Joe Williams, the Secretary of Corrections in New Mexico, declined repeated opportunities to penalize private prison operators within his state for repeated contract violations.  Though he claims the violations weren't egregious enough to warrant a fine (I can't really imagine any instance in which the violation of a contract to house prisoners wouldn't warrant a fine, considering the severity of their responsibility), it turns out he actually used to work for the GEO Group.  I guess it must be nice to have friends like that.