NCJ Number
86775
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 62 Issue: 2 Dated: (Autumn/Winter 1982) Pages: 13-24
Date Published
1982
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article focuses on the concept of the industrial prison by identifying both the assumptions upon which it rests and a number of the significant policy issues which must be faced if it is to be implemented.
Abstract
The industrial prison is a secure facility in which both the public and private sectors would provide prisoners the opportunity to work in a fulltime, productive job at the prevailing wage for similar work in the community. The industrial prison concept rests upon the following assumptions: every attempt should be made to provide an environment from which prisoners will leave in no worse condition than when they entered; the environment in which this can best be be accomplished should be one which replicates as closely as possible the world outside; the world outside is characterized in large part by work; work will be rewarded with real wages. The industrial prison stabilizes the prison environment by introducing the normal world of work, relieves the public of some of the tax burden generated by the cost of incarceration, uses available resources in prisons more effectively, and reduces idleness and violence within prisons. A number of significant policy issues underlie the concept of the industrial prison. Population size, security level, wage levels, labor organizations, and organizational structure must be considered in developing an industrial prison. Assignment criteria for the industrial prison should include such factors as willingness to work and time to serve. The primary means of improving prisoners' skills would be vocational training. Corrections professionals must take a leadership role in the development of the industrial prison concept. Five footnote references are provided.