Should prisoners be made to work?

There is a history of work-rule abuse in prisons, but if the program is well regulated I believe it would be advantageous for both prisoner and society.

I agree with @dpworkin – if the conditions are satisfactory – my best friend’s interest lies in prison populations and abuses thereof – there have been ‘jobs’ inmates had to do that directly led to them developing adverse health conditions and diseases (like working with computer parts and lead, etc) – no one gives a shit about inmates and their health which I am vehemently against.

If they are chained by the legs, in 100 degree heat, digging holes, no. That’s torture. If you have inmates working to rehabilitate animals, yes.

I am in favour of inmates being allowed to work under safe conditions even for very low wages.
The cost of their ‘accommodation’ to society exceeds what most of them could make even at minimum wage.

The opportunity to work is a break from the crushing boredom of inactivity. It gives them the opportunity to show they can conduct themselves well and demonstrate a good work ethic. At parole board hearings, this can benefit the inmates. Any skills they learn may assist them after release. The income, however small, enables them to buy things they desire from the commissary.

Inmates who do not want to work should be allowed to experience all the benefits of boredom and inactivity!

If I was a prisoner I’d rather be out working for free than rotting away in a cell. I would say its win win.

They should be forced to work on their education and rehabilitation. If hard labor is a part of that, then so be it. Perhaps give an option, educate and rehabilitate, or work your ass off.

They obviously have too much free time on their hands with all the drugs and violence in prisons.

And the most offensive report came out yesterday about the home buyer’s tax credit. NPR reported that 9 million dollars was fraudulent claims. Get this… 15,000 inmates applied for the $8,000 home buyers tax credit AND GOT IT! Some of them have life sentences, and that number is beyond those who are married with spouse who is free. 15,000 inmates got the tax credit. Un-freaking-believable!

Work has to include in-house jobs such as the kitchen and the laundry. It would seem crazy to me to pay help to come in and take care of maintenance and service jobs within the institution while able-bodied inmates sit around idle in cells.

I’ve never been in prison and can’t imagine what I could ever do that would put me there, but if I were, I would certainly prefer to have some occupation rather than to spend years going crazy with inactivity.

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies WOW! Just WOW!
@Dr_Lawrence Agreed. But then some bleeding heart will come along and claim that its cruel punishment because they aren’t being offered different alternatives to enjoy their free time. After reading the comments that people made on the internet, I was wondering what are they thinking. They get a free bed, free 3 meals, showers, heating, cooling, and in many cases a free education if they want it, free cable, free internet, free electricity all paid by tax payers. And even while in jail many still break the law. I think a regular 8 hours work shift is kind (provided it doesn’t physically harm them) and a small way to pay society back not only for their crime but also for their general up keep. Blankets, pillows and food don’t fall out of the sky. Society isn’t the only one who should be made to pay for it.
@Jeruba @Simone_De_Beauvoir @tinyfaery @LeotCol I totally agree.

I was hoping to someone who sees this a different way only because I wanted to understand what is their objection and why they may think it slavery.

As long as the main theory of justice in this country is that the guilty should be punished, then work will be used as punishment. It may look like slavery, but it is merely punishment.

If we ever decide that the guilty should be rehabilitated as best we can; if we ever decide we want prisoners to desist from further crime; then we might want to give them jobs where they can actually learn useful skills that may help them land a job when they are released.

Call me cynical, but frankly, I don’t think we’ll see the second theory of justice any time soon in this country.

Yep. Put them to work and take away their smokes.

The opinion of someone that has a family member in prison.

We need license plates.

I used to work for the prison systems. When I started there, I defended the prisoners, and said each one deserves a chance. However, I worked there for two years, and never did I see one who I felt actually understood why theynwere there. They brake everything, they abuse everyone and everything, and have a sense of entitlement. Theydid nothing wrong, theyndeserve the best….

Guess what. Society said you broke the law. You had your day in court. Wrongfully convicted or not, we cannot be lawless.

Endof rant.

Yeah…
Making BIG into little rocks…

I don’t know if this sounds cruel or not but, I believe in prison punishment, not prison rehabilitation. For me, punish first, rehabilitate as a bonus. Put ‘em to work.

@Maximillian I agree. Only thing is I also think if they are back for the second time than money spent on rehabilitation should go to first time offenders. If they already had a shot before and they still chose to come back than why waste any more tax payers dollars. Plus to me that means they thought the first time was summer camp. Like boffin said. Make big rocks into little rocks.

@Pandora Yes! First time, you get punished with rehabilitation. Second time on, you get punishment. Period.

I have been locked up. County jail not prison though. My experience is you don’t to force or pay inmates to get them to work. Nine out of ten guys locked up would rather be on a job digging holes, picking up garbage, mopping floors, or anything else but sitting in a cell or dorm all day sleeping, reading, and playing cards. There is not enough jobs for inmates. There was waiting list for inmates waiting on others to be released so they could get on different job crews. Your time passes quicker when you get to work and you sleep better and longer. No one is forced to work when they are locked up in the U.S. Whoever said that is misinformed. Primarily prisoners line up to work to get their bodies out of the cellblocks and their minds out of the cellblock temporarily.

I do think rehabilitation is an important goal for those interested/capable of turning their lives around. A big part of that is giving them job-skills that they can use to be productive citizens when they’re released. When I toured a maximum security facility as part of a class I took on the correctional system back in college, prisoners were making shoes as one of the major job choices. Unless they’re planning on moving to Indonesia and working in a Nike sweat-shop, I don’t think they’re going to have a whole lot of marketable skills when they get out.

Whatever job they do, it should be more productive/profitable than breaking rocks. Prisons are very expensive, and so prison labor should be maximized to help reduce these expenses. As @buster has said, most prisoners actually WANT to work.

I don’t see much constructive about prisons other than keeping dangerous people out of the general population so yeah, let them contribute something positive to the people they’ve preyed on rather than eating up taxpayer money while becoming worse human beings behind bars all day and night.

my nephew was paid to work in the chapel in his old jail. he was moved. He became a real christian, not a want to get out of jail kind. They have to keep the prison runnin somehow, laundry. etc….I believe in a better pay.

Using incentives is a better strategy than using force.

@mattbrowne It seems there are usually a waiting list to work. So I doubt it is forced labor. As for doing prison laundry or any work that needs to be done in the prison, I would consider it the same if someone was living in my house. They either pitch in and help or move out. Of course you can’t kick them out of jail for being lazy but forcing them to take care of their needs isn’t the same.

@Pandora – I meant making it mandatory.

Not sure what you meant. Do you mean using labor as an incentive?

I meant doing good work gives them some interesting rewards. Like an extra conjugal visit.

If the prison allows that. Many don’t.

Most of them (depending on the crime and state laws) have enough incentive, everyday you go to work, you get a day taken off your sentence.

Prisoners should be required to engage in productive work.