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Work and Improvement - An Overview of the Changing Role of Prison Labor in American Prisons

NCJ Number
86774
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 62 Issue: 2 Dated: (Autumn/Winter 1982) Pages: 3-12
Author(s)
J Schaller
Date Published
1982
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article discusses prison labor in terms of historical origins, the decline and reemergence of prison industries, the Free Venture model, and emerging trends.
Abstract
Work in prison is as old as the American penitentiary itself. Prison officials of the early 19th century soon became aware of the need for some kind of daily activity for their institutional populations. Similarly, involvement of the private sector in prison work programs is also a time honored American prison custom. Private sector involvement in prison manufacturing enterprises ended in the early part of this century with the passage of restrictive legislation at both the State and Federal level aimed at eliminating what many saw as unfair competition through cheap prison labor. Since then, and continuing to the late 1970's, private companies stayed away from the prison as a source of labor. However, the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration recognized the potential inherent in a well-run prison industry program and, in 1974, initiated research in this regard. From this study, the Free Venture program emerged. Broad goals of the program included a realistic work environment, partial reimbursement of the State by inmates, graduated preparation for inmate release, financial incentives to the prison industry, and self-supporting or profit-making business operations. The short-term success experienced in some participant States has begun to attract the attention of correctional administrators and Government officials. Where the early Free Venture attempted to introduce private industry concepts into prison industries, it has now become realistic to bring private industry itself into the prison. For example, in Minnesota, Control Data Corporation has contracted with the Minnesota Department of Corrections to employ up to 200 prisoners at one State prison to assemble mechanical and electrical subcomponents for computer disk drives. Many myths about prison industries have been shattered over the past 8 years, myths that have heretofore presented a wider acceptance of work as integral prison activity. Numerous problems remained to be solved, including levels of expectation regarding prisoner productivity, wage disparity, and the role of profit in industries. Eight footnotes are provided.