NCJ Number
45784
Date Published
1974
Length
9 pages
Annotation
PRISON WORK PROGRAMS SHOULD PAY AT LEAST THE MINIMUM WAGE REQUIRED NATIONALLY OR IN THE STATE ACCORDING TO THIS POLICY ADOPTED BY NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
AFTER STUDY OF CURRENT PRISON WORK PROGRAMS, THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY (NCCD) ISSUED THIS BACKGROUND PAPER AND POLICY STATEMENT. ORIGINALLY, PRISON WORK PROGRAMS WERE CONCEIVED OF AS PUNISHMENT AND PRISONERS RECEIVED NO PAY. SUBSEQUENT PENAL THINKING CONCEIVED WORK TO BE A REHABILITATIVE DEVICE, AND SMALL WAGES WERE PAID TO INMATES. NCCD STATES THAT IMPRISONMENT IS PUNISHMENT ENOUGH; TOKEN WAGES ARE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. AN INMATE EMPLOYED IN A FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL INSTITUTION SHOULD BE PAID AT LEAST THE MINIMUM WAGE REQUIRED NATIONALLY OR IN HIS STATE. IN 1970, MORE THAN $165 MILLION IN GOODS WAS PRODUCED BY POORLY PAID CONVICT LABOR, INCLUDING SUCH PRODUCTS AS FURNITURE, TEXTILES, LICENSE PLATES, SHOES, FLAGS, AND FARM MACHINERY. OF 33 STATES SUPPLYING DATA, WAGES RANGED FROM 4 CENTS A DAY TO A HIGH OF $1.30 A DAY. NO STATE PAYS INMATES THE AMOUNT SPECIFIED BY FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE STANDARDS. HOWEVER, AN EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON, D.C., HAS PAID THE MINIMUM WAGE AND MORE TO INMATES EMPLOYED IN THE CAPITAL HOUSING PROJECT. UNDER EXISTING CONDITIONS, CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO AN OFFENDER'S ADJUSTMENT ON RELEASE NOR DO THEY TEACH MARKETABLE SKILLS OR WORK HABITS. PAYING DECENT WAGES IN THE INSTITUTION WOULD HELP CREATE LESS BITTERNESS TOWARD SOCIETY, WOULD ENABLE THE INMATE TO HELP SUPPORT HIS FAMILY, CONTINUE SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS, MAKE RESTITUTION OR PAY FINES, PAY INCOME TAX, AND CONTRIBUTE TO HIS INSTITUTIONAL ROOM AND BOARD. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT DECENT WAGES BE COMBINED WITH BUDGET COUNSELING FOR A VIABLE REHABILITATION PROGRAM. (GLR)