NCJ Number
124113
Journal
Federal Prisons Journal Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (Spring 1990) Pages: 11-15
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article examines the Federal Prison Industries (FPI), a non-appropriated government corporation, created to sell solely to the government.
Abstract
FPI is described as the best opportunity for Federal inmates to participate in work programs. Statistics are provided that illustrate the scope of its impact on the Federal prison system. Since FPI was developed as a correctional program, its emphasis is toward employment and training rather than profit. Business efficiencies actually suffer in order to accommodate the maximum number of inmates into the program. The structural aspects of the program are described to illustrate its differences from regular business. Restrictions on product development guidelines are examined to highlight the difficulty in expanding the programs to accommodate the ever increasing prison populations. Issues and options for future growth are offered to provide guidance to decision-makers who will eventually be forced to expand FPI's activities.