VALUE OF ADULT INMATE MANPOWER

• NCJ Number: 11279
• Author(s): N M SINGER
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 21 pages
• Corporate Author: American Bar Assoc.
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: CORRECTIONAL ECONOMIC ANALYSES SERIES

Annotation

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIAL LABOR PRODUCTIVITY OF INMATES IN AMERICAN ADULT CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

Abstract

DRAWING FROM THE MOST CURRENT CENSUS BUREAU DATA ON EDUCATION AND OCCUPATION LEVELS OF ADULT INMATES, AND INCOME AND EARNING STATISTICS FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN THESE EDUCATION AND OCCUPATION GROUPS, THE AUTHOR CALCULATES THE GROSS POTENTIAL EARNINGS OF THOSE INCARCERATED IN ADULT PENAL INSTITUTIONS. HE THEN ESTIMATES WHAT PORTION OF THE INMATE PRODUCTIVITY IS ACTUALLY BEING UTILIZED IN WORK RELEASE, PRISON INDUSTRIES, AND VOCATIONAL-REMEDIAL EDUCATION PURSUITS, WHAT PORTION IS BEING UTILIZED IN INSTITUTIONAL MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES, AND WHAT PORTION IS BEING LOST TO SOCIETY AS WASTED MANPOWER POTENTIAL. THE CONCLUSION IS THAT MORE THAN ONE BILLION DOLLARS OF A TOTAL PRODUCTIVITY POTENTIAL OF AS MUCH AS 2.5 BILLION DOLLARS IN INMATE EARNINGS IS LOST ANNUALLY. THE AUTHOR POINTS OUT THAT THIS MANPOWER LOSS COULD BE LESSENED BY THE EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS, WORK RELEASE, AND OTHER SUCH ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).