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I wonder if we could make prisoners net producers rather than net consumers. Put them to work. Pick crops, pull weeds, etc. We might not get in the black but maybe we could significantly cut down the cost per prisoner. Plus, the positive environment, though menial, might "flip the switch" in their heads to the extent that they might take a more constructive approach to life.
Don't we have hundreds of thousands of people in prison? From an economic model, couldn't we look at this as untapped human resources? (The Nazis viewed prisoners this way.)
Plus, might this make the US less dependent on illegal aliens and potentially kill two birds with one stone?
I snapped this photo of Madison County Jail dudes picking up trash on 431 between Big Cove and Huntsville Hospital
It's been tried in many and in a number of cases, labor unions have successfully sued to keep jail and prison labor off the streets. They maintain that it's taking jobs away from "real" people. Most unfortunately, "progressive" judges/courts have backed them up.
It's been tried in many and in a number of cases, labor unions have successfully sued to keep jail and prison labor off the streets. They maintain that it's taking jobs away from "real" people. Most unfortunately, "progressive" judges/courts have backed them up.
I figured it was something like that or liability issues or ACLU or something. It also might be a simple economic failure in that it might cost more to monitor them working, transported them, etc than it would be to just let them sit in cells.
Still, some communities are doing it (above in Huntsville); they make it work. If one community can do it, why can't all communities do it? How does Huntsville pull it off? Different laws there?
I figured it was something like that or liability issues or ACLU or something. It also might be a simple economic failure in that it might cost more to monitor them working, transported them, etc than it would be to just let them sit in cells.
Still, some communities are doing it (above in Huntsville); they make it work. If one community can do it, why can't all communities do it? How does Huntsville pull it off? Different laws there?
Right to Work state! That helps. So does being a compaatively conservative state. Judges want to get reelected!
San Pedro prison or El penal de San Pedro is the largest prison in La Paz, Bolivia renowned for being a society within itself. Significantly different from most correctional facilities, inmates at San Pedro have jobs inside the community, buy or rent their accommodation, and often live with their families. The sale of cocaine base to visiting tourists gives those inside a significant income and an unusual amount of freedom within the prison walls. Elected leaders enforce the laws of the community, with stabbings being commonplace. The prison is home to approximately 1,500 inmates (not including the women and children that live inside the walls with their convicted husbands), with additional guests staying in the prison hotel
With some...ahem...minor tweaks something like this would seem to have value
I am not sure how anyone can say work is cruel and unusual punishment when the majority of us do it every day.
Of course there would have to be safeguards to insure inmate labor was not being made into an industry that was facilitating the arrest and conviction of people falsely to provide labor. I can see where there would be a motive for abuse. It would need to be monitored.
It happens many States, with the "chain gangs." The problem is some escape. Hopefully it is confined to nonviolent offenders. And of course many prisoners work in the laundry room and cleanup. I do have a problem when prison labor competes with private enterprise.
1st step, before you put any of them to work, is remove one third our inmates who are in prison for drug offenses, and let them find employment and pay taxes.
I live in Las Vegas with an unofficial unemployment rate of 23%. That idea would go over real well in this city, as the inmates in Nevada are already allowed to build mattresses for the hotels here!
I totally agree with the basic premise of putting inmates to work. Understand the difficulties relative to putting such a system in place.
Example: you decide to put an inmate to work. He says no.
what do you do? Beat him? Not allowed.
Offer to pay him? He's already costing the state. His balance with the state will remain below zero. Besides, where will he spend the money.
Offer a reduced sentence? Many will argue this would equate trading safety for finanical savings.
Many incentive-based systems do exist, though I doubt they even put a dent in the cost of keeping up prisons and their population.
Pay him either nothing or a meager wage to buy treats in jail, things like candy, CDs, cigarettes, internet use....it wouldn't be hard to be creative.
Yes, if he works diligently, it could be used to reduce sentence.
No, don't beat him. Prison labor would be a carrot, an opportunity, not a stick.
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