Shouldn't long-term prisoners be "forced" into labor?

[StageLeft]

By forced I don't mean slavery, or beatings if they don't work, but I think that it's entirely appropriate for prison inmates to have essentially no perks or privaleges if they don't work for a living.

These people have in general already cost society a lot by commiting a crime that put them in prison in the first place. Then while there the average prisoner costs the tax payer more than the average tax payer makes as a civilian. It makes sense to me that they should have to work in any number of professions (construction, manufacturing, etc.) to make back some of the drain they're putting on the system.

Those who work get not only standard perks, but also a small wage (as they do now), and those who don't work get basically no privaleges at all. I bet most would opt for some sort of labor, otherwise they'd be stuck in their cell all day!

They should give back to the community! Plus they might even learn something and wouldn't have to go cap some store owner the day they get out in a botched robbery.

 

[Eli]

Perhaps only for felonies, or something.

There has to be some sort of gradient. Not all people in prison deserve to lose their rights.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Eli
Perhaps only for felonies, or something.

There has to be some sort of gradient. Not all people in prison deserve to lose their rights.

Why though? They're costing tax payers money too.

Isn't like 2% of the US incarcerated? Think of the bump it would do to the economy if even half of them were working full time in real professions? Even somebody without highschool can mow a lawn or help in ditch digging.

 

[misle]

I agree with Skoorb. If anything, keep the more dangerous criminals away from work involving tools, such as construction. Give them jobs in the laundry.

Assuming all criminals cost the same amount per day, I think they should all work to pay off their debt to society and the taxpayers.

I would bet the majority of inmates would welcome some type of work, because laying around all day for X number of years has to be boring as hell.

 

[Spencer278]

The problem is that how can any private company compete when the goverment has a bunch of people working below the average wage in china?

Prision should be expensive that way people will think twice before locking someone up for 70 years for something stupid.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Eli
Perhaps only for felonies, or something.

There has to be some sort of gradient. Not all people in prison deserve to lose their rights.

Why though? They're costing tax payers money too.

Isn't like 2% of the US incarcerated? Think of the bump it would do to the economy if even half of them were working full time in real professions? Even somebody without highschool can mow a lawn or help in ditch digging.

Oh, I see what you mean.

Well, that opens up a whole 'nother can of worms. It would take a lot of manpower to control inmates that don't want to be incarcerated, let alone be forced to work in a "real" profession...

Plus it opens the door to lawsuits from citizens due to the PD letting the inmates out, etc....

It's a nice idea, but.. they're people too. And as was pointed out in the other thread, being able to make 3$/hr.. more than 50% less than minimum wage in most places, is fair. As someone said, you could say the other 50 - 75% is being taken for room/board/etc.

Shrug.

 

[Red]

Well, Spencer, I was thinking about the private sector as well, but maybe the government could lease the inmates to construction / manual labor companies, supervised of course.

The private company pays the same as it would for any other manual laborers, but the paychecks go into help paying back the debt of the inmates, rather than the inmates pocket. I think many jails have programs like this, someone in my fiancees family was in jail, and he said he would clean sidestreets and made 75 cents / hour.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Spencer278
The problem is that how can any private company compete when the goverment has a bunch of people working below the average wage in china?

Prision should be expensive that way people will think twice before locking someone up for 70 years for something stupid.

You'd have to make the prison companies charge prevailing rates, so as not to undercut private ones I suppose. Then with the vast sums they make it could be cranked back into the prison system, which would leave the taxpayers with a smaller bill.

 

[NuclearNed]

I think its a great idea. There are a lot of menial jobs that these people could do to earn their keep.

Also, it can't be a bad thing if you give these people a sense that they are being productive and giving back to society.

 

[freegeeks]

Originally posted by: Red
Well, Spencer, I was thinking about the private sector as well, but maybe the government could lease the inmates to construction / manual labor companies, supervised of course.

The private company pays the same as it would for any other manual laborers, but the paychecks go into help paying back the debt of the inmates, rather than the inmates pocket. I think many jails have programs like this, someone in my fiancees family was in jail, and he said he would clean sidestreets and made 75 cents / hour.

why would a private company choose inmates when the cost is equal to regular people without jobs

 

[Beattie]

I say that if it's a shorter sentence for something not so bad, then make 'em work. They have to repay thier debt to society somehow.

If it's a longer sentence, then either forced hard labor, or just kill them. What's the use in keeping them in jail for that long doing nothing when all they do is cost more money. Money that could be better spent on helping the ones that are help-able, or reinvesting in schools or something.

 

[tec699]

No! I feel sorry for the prisoners. Most have had bad lives.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: tec699
No! I feel sorry for the prisoners. Most have had bad lives.

lol

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Red
Well, Spencer, I was thinking about the private sector as well, but maybe the government could lease the inmates to construction / manual labor companies, supervised of course.

The private company pays the same as it would for any other manual laborers, but the paychecks go into help paying back the debt of the inmates, rather than the inmates pocket. I think many jails have programs like this, someone in my fiancees family was in jail, and he said he would clean sidestreets and made 75 cents / hour.

This is how the chain gangs used to work. But the system was rife with corruption. The warden often managed to pocket some of the take, and people were picked up of the street, especially blacks, on trumped up charges, to enlarge the workforce.

Not saying it can't work with the right controls, but it has an ugly history & perception to overcome.

 

[EagleKeeper]

But making some one would be considered cruel and unusual punishment. Many have never had to work.

/sarcasm


There is no reason that these people could not augment existing public servants on menial jobs that municipalites can not fund. Park & roadside cleanup, whitewashing graffitti, etc.

 

[gistech1978]

well they do have those.
chain-gangs (some states brought these back), inmates doing telemarketing duties.

then work release centers, halfway houses.
inmates in TX used to make license plates, i dont know if they do that anymore.

i can see your point, though.
if i were given the option to work and leave the prison or stay behind the bars/walls all day. you better believe i would choose work.

 

[acemcmac]

I feel for the innocent people in prison...

 

[ohtwell]

I think they should all be required to work while in jail. Their job requirements should be dependent upon their crime. The worse the crime, the more and longer they have to work.


: ) Amanda

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
I feel for the innocent people in prison...

Are those hats compressing your brains?

 

[dolph]

hell yes they should work; only real problem i can see is supervision, and that most jobs are pretty close to where non-felons live. i don't think a convict will be taking my order at in-n-out anytime soon

 

[desy]

That prison labor is being exploited should come as no
surprise. Prison industries are only one source of potential
profits for companies feeding off the imprisonment boom. Prisons
themselves are a growth industry. Federal, state, and local
governments spent an estimated $30 billion for their prison systems
in 1994, up from only $4 billion in 1975. (14) This year, for the
first time in its history, California will spend more for prisons
than on higher education. (15)


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