Will Work for Room and Board Prison Labor in America Essay

American prisoners receive free medical attention, housing, meals, utilities, use of exercise equipment, and laundry services. The cost of these services amount in the billions of dollars a year and government budgets are straining to accommodate these fiscal requirements. â€Å"There’s special urgency in prisons these days,† â€Å"As state budgets get constricted, the public is looking for ways to offset the cost of imprisonment† (Brown). This economic concern requires work programs to aid in the relief of financial burdens incurred from convicted criminals. Once found guilty of a crime the prisoner needs to take responsibility for the costs incurred. Prison labor has evolved from the day of hard labor, breaking rocks, and making license plates to†¦show more content†¦The Inmate Work Act has fueled rapid expansion of Oregon prison industries in the past few years and has paved the way for many joint ventures† (Oregon). â€Å"In addition, during the last 20 years more than 30 states have passed laws permitting the use of convict labor by commercial enterprises. These programs now exist in 36 states† (Whyte). Even though people used work programs in the past for personal profit and prison labor has been compared to slavery the programs are successful. Corrupt people are removed from their positions with their exposure by outside organizations. Watchdog groups are necessary for any industry, including the prison work force, and are welcomed. As with any organization, there will always be some bad apples. In American prisons workers are paid for work performed. Presently 80,000 inmates are employed manufacturing blue jeans, auto parts, electronics, furniture, handling reservations, telemarketing, data entry, record keeping, desk top publishing, digital mapping, computer-aided design work, auto repairs and, are paid at a rate of $.21 to $.50 an hour (Whyte). Fortunately, work programs will relieve taxpayers burden and hold the criminal financially responsible for their actions. During the sentencing phase of a trial a prisoner is ordered to pay a victim compensation for damages or loss but is unable to due to incarceration with no income, andShow MoreRelatedOvercrowded Jails and Prisons1821 Words   |  7 Pages Why are prison and jail so overcrowded? Could it be we need to establish a better program for rehabilitating the inmates? For many years now rehabilitation has been an issue within the Criminal Justice System. The debate of should these criminals be punished or should they be rehabilitated. 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