Did you know that incarcerated workers in the US produce at least $11 BILLION in goods and services annually but receive just pennies an hour in wages for their prison jobs, according to a new report from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Nearly two-thirds of all prisoners in the US, which has a population more than any other country in the world, have jobs in state and federal prisons. There are roughly 800,000 prisoners, researchers estimated in the report, which is based on extensive public records requests, questionnaires and interviews with prisoners who are workers.
ACLU researchers say the reports raise concerns of prisoners, who are made to work sometimes difficult and dangerous jobs with basic labor protections and little or no training while making close to nothing!
More than 80% of incarcerated laborers do general prison maintenance, including cleaning, cooking, repair work, laundry and other important services.For paid-non industry jobs, workers make an average of 13 cents to 52 cents an hour, according to the report. Seven states- including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas pay nothing for the vast majority of prison work.
Prisoners who are paid often see most of their pay withheld for “taxes, room and board expenses, and court costs” the report states. All the work these prisoners do is saving the prisons millions of dollars and prisoners are getting pennies in return.
Most of the prisoners are not provided with skills and training for their work. It would help them secure jobs when released. 70% of the prisoners have said they did not receive any sort of skill training or job training, and another 70% said they could not afford basic essentials like soap and phone calls with their wages.
Researchers have found that it is estimated that the maintenance work of prisoners is worth $9 Billion per year which is only a rough estimate and it is believed it is even more.
There needs to be many changes around the use of prison labor, including making sure such work is voluntary and provides workers with the same wages and protections granted to other workers. They also need skill training and work programs that prepare prisoners for when they are released and looking for employment. It is crucial that the prison systems in this country do this for the incarcerated so when released they are marketable and can provide for themselves in this country.
Part 3 is coming
-Lori Pica