Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises Essay Example

order to hone prisoners' skills (Harrell par 1).

PRIDE offers a unique strategy for utilizing prison labor, providing well-trained inmates with job skills that match current business needs. Despite concerns about their criminal records hindering future employment searches, gaining valuable work experience can be beneficial for ex-offenders seeking jobs after release. As a society that values justice and liberty, it is our duty to assist those who have made mistakes in the past. Although PRIDE has had some success in this regard, other state programs like Central Carolina Community College's two-semester course have demonstrated even greater effectiveness over the course of ten years.

Through the electronic repair program, prisoners have the chance to repurpose old computers from North Carolina's state surplus and sell them to local schools for a mere $20 each. This initiative provides inmates with valuable skills while also giving schools an affordable option they would not have otherwise. While some argue that this could compete with private businesses, it is worth noting that without prisoner participation, these schools may not be able to afford more expensive alternatives. Furthermore, access to education can increase post-release employability opportunities for prisoners. It should be acknowledged that even for law-abiding students, obtaining a degree can prove challenging; however, completing the two-semester electronic repair program may inspire inmates to pursue higher goals upon release.

Advocates of convict labor argue that it can be a beneficial way to utilize untapped resources. Certain programs specialize in teaching valuable trades, such as lens crafting, printing, computer repair, and data entry - skills that can assist those released in finding employment. These skills could also potentially hinder the outflow of jobs being transported overseas.

Recently, when Florida-based computer mapping company, GEONEX, was bidding on a significant project for an international telephone enterprise, the executives evaluated hiring Pakistani or Indian labor to input the computer data. However, GEONEX decided to partner with Liberty Correctional Institution situated near Tallahassee, ensuring the retention of jobs in the United States.

One possibility for corporations to benefit and improve the welfare of 1.5 million prisoners is by viewing them as valuable national assets rather than as liabilities. Training incarcerated individuals with marketable skills will equip them with an advantage for employment opportunities in the job market that they did not possess prior to their incarceration. This way, companies can benefit from cost-effective labor while exporting more goods and reducing imports. Additionally, working with convict labor keeps money circulating within our own country and helps convicts make restitution for their debts and assist their own families and those they have hurt. It is also beneficial for foreign countries to employ American labor rather than turning to countries like China or other third-world nations. Moreover, aside from providing skills training and a regular salary, released prisoners can expect decent compensation of at least $25,000 annually for similar jobs. (Zalusky par 5)

In reference to Richey's fifth paragraph, those in favor of prisoner labor claim that it effectively decreases repeat offenders - a crucial objective for all prison systems. Florida carried out a study in 1996 on prisoners who took part in its correctional industries program (like PRIDE) for at least six months and found that only 17% were recommitted within two years - significantly lower than the national average recommitment rate of about 40%, as mentioned by Cochran's

eighteenth paragraph. As a result, correctional facilities could benefit from increasing their use of prison labor to decrease crime rates and the high cost of inmate housing. Critics argue that forcing inmates to work for low wages is brutal; however, government-employed individuals are excluded from federal minimum wage laws.

Some people criticize the wage given to prisoners employed by the government, which is only 23 cents per hour. Half of this amount might be deducted for various purposes such as taxes, room and board expenses, family support, and victim restitution. According to AFL-CIO, inmates could face an extension of their sentences if they refuse to work for these low wages in 21 states (Slaughter par 9-10). Some consider this practice similar to forced labor without adequate compensation like slavery that was banned nationally after the Civil War. However, others endorse involuntary work because prisoners have violated laws even without pay involved. Moreover, there are individuals who argue that inmates take away jobs from law-abiding citizens.

The 1979 Prison Industries Enhancement law requires private companies operating in prisons to pay the prevailing wage, but exclusion of local or national government makes them exempt from this requirement. However, private companies must consult with union leaders and ensure that their presence does not negatively affect local industry or cause unemployment. Unfortunately, this law has been disregarded in some cases, such as a glove maker in Wisconsin that cut wages and outside jobs by 40 percent after employing inmates from the Green Bay Correctional Institution. On the other hand, according to the American Bar Association, inmate labor only accounts for approximately .00056 percent of the national civilian workforce.

The labor

force in correctional facilities poses no significant threat to the national workforce, but it does pose a threat to small local firms. At present, inmate labor has little impact on the civilian workforce and does not compete with local industries. However, if convict labor becomes more widespread, it could potentially displace law-abiding civilian jobs. Despite this potential negative impact, prison labor could have positive effects for both convicts and private businesses if reforms are made. Currently, correctional facility employment programs do not properly train prisoners for post-confinement careers, as they focus on producing goods that could be more efficiently manufactured overseas.

In addition, industries like textiles and apparel that already compete with inexpensive imports have limited benefits from training. To assist prisoners without negatively impacting the private sector, changes within the current system are necessary. Achieving this goal, though complex, is still feasible through improving training programs in prisons as long as prison labor initiatives do not harm American jobs. If production of goods must continue in prison industries, it should only involve products that lack a commercial market. Reformation of prison labor is crucial to attain three significant outcomes: prisoners receiving training, creating important goods that are not commercially viable, and eliminating unfair competition from prison labor for law-abiding citizens.

If changes are not implemented, prisoners will acquire skills that cannot be used in the job market, which might result in unemployment and potential re-conviction. Besides, if reform is not implemented promptly, law-abiding citizens may continue to lose employment opportunities to our country's liabilities as corporations seek the cheapest possible workforce and goods, even if they are produced in a correctional facility.