NCJ Number
37808
Date Published
1976
Length
31 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORICAL AND MODERN FORMS AND AIMS OF PRISON LABOR IS PRESENTED ALONG WITH IDEAS ON INMATE COMPENSATION, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE ISRAELI CORRECTIONS SYSTEM.
Abstract
FOR SEVERAL CENTURIES, PENAL LABOR WAS REQUIRED, NOT FOR REHABILITATIVE OR PUNITIVE REASONS, BUT ON ECONOMIC GROUNDS. GALLEY SLAVERY, CONFINEMENT TO WORKHOUSES, AND OTHER FORMS OF LABOR HAD ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES. THE IDEA OF LABOR AS A PUNISHMENT BEGAN TO TAKE HOLD IN ENGLAND TOWARD THE END OF THE 18TH CENTURY, AS PRISONERS WERE SET TO 'LABOUR OF THE HARDEST AND MOST SERVILE KIND.' IT WAS MAINLY IN THE 20TH CENTURY THAT THE REFORMATIVE, TRAINING ASPECT WAS ADDED TO THE PURPOSES OF PRISONERS EMPLOYMENT. THERE ARE SEVERAL AIMS OF PRISON LABOR IN MODERN PRISON SYSTEMS; NOT ALL CAN BE SEEN IN EVERY SYSTEM. THESE INCLUDE: PUNISHMENT; DISCIPLINE (WHICH IS EASIER IF PRISONERS ARE OCCUPIED); MORALITY (ASSUMING THAT IDLENESS IS IMMORAL); SECURITY (PRISONERS HAVE LESS TIME TO PLAN ESCAPES WHEN KEPT BUSY); ECONOMIC (REDUCING THE COST OF KEEPING PRISONERS); HUMANITARIAN (LABOR BREAKS MONOTONY AND PROVIDES PRISONERS WITH POCKET MONEY); THERAPEUTIC (OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY); SOCIAL-REHABILITATIVE (WORK ENABLES THE INMATE TO HELP SUPPORT HIS DEPENDENTS); AND TRAINING (TEACHING SPECIALIZED SKILLS). SOME OF THESE AIMS ARE DECLARED AS PUBLIC POLICY, SOME ARE UNDERSTOOD, AND OTHERS ARE EVIDENT THOUGH NOT ADMITTED TO. MANY DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF EMPLOYING PRISONERS HAVE BEEN USED IN PENAL SYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD. SOME WHICH ARE IN USE IN ISRAEL ARE: THE STATE-USE SYSTEM, IN WHICH MANUFACTURE IN PRISONS OF CERTAIN PRODUCTS IS FOR STATE USE ONLY, SO AS NOT TO COMPETE WITH FREE LABOR; THE PIECE-PRICE SYSTEM, IN WHICH AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR PROVIDES MATERIALS, KNOWLEDGE, AND MACHINERY AND PAYS PER UNIT OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT; THE EXTRAMURAL SYSTEM, IN WHICH PRISON LABOR IS EMPLOYED BY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE CONCERNS, AND INMATES LIVE IN THE PRISON BUT ARE TAKEN DAILY TO THE OUTSIDE PLACE OF WORK; AND FINALLY THE WORK-RELEASE SYSTEM, IN WHICH INMATES WITH A CERTAIN LENGTH OF TIME LEFT TO SERVE ON THEIR SENTENCES ARE HOUSED SEPARATELY WITHIN THE PRISON BUT WORK FOR A PRIVATE EMPLOYER AND RECEIVE FULL WAGES. AS FOR PAYMENT TO PRISONERS, THREE COUNTRIES (AS OF 1976) HAVE A SYSTEM OF NORMAL WAGES FOR ALL PRISONERS; SOME HAVE THE SYSTEM FOR SELECTED POPULATIONS OR TYPES OF WORK; AND TWO PAY NO WAGES AT ALL TO PRISONERS. ISRAEL HAS A TOKEN SYSTEM OF DAILY WAGES. THERE ARE FIVE GRADES OF PRISONERS, WITH ADVANCEMENT DEPENDING ON MERIT; THEY RECEIVE FROM ABOUT 10 TO 25 CENTS A DAY. ABOUT 5 CENTS (18 AGOROT) IS CREDITED TO THE PRISONER'S SAVINGS ACCOUNT, AND THE REST IS MADE AVAILABLE TO HIM EVERY 10 DAYS. THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT A SYSTEM OF PAYING REAL, AS OPPOSED TO TOKEN, WAGES WOULD PROVIDE A GREATER INCENTIVE FOR WORK AND LEARNING VOCATIONAL SKILLS. HE RECOMMENDS A SYSTEM WHEREBY PRISONERS ARE PAID REALISTIC WAGES DAILY, IN CASH, WITH AN AMOUNT AVAILABLE UPON RELEASE IN ADDITION TO THEIR EARNINGS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED, AND APPENDIXES CONTAIN EXCERPTS FROM ISRAELI LEGISLATION CONCERNING PRISON LABOR AND THE UNITED NATIONS STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. (VDA)