Using Inmate Labor to Produce Products for the Open Market

Abstract

Privatization of corrections is reemerging as an option for correctional administrations. As a part of this reemer gence, prison industries appear to be perceived as a legitimate area for privatization. In past efforts, the competitive edge provided by the use of prison labor by private businesses has produced resistance from both organized labor and competing businesses. This paper presents a proposed model for privatization of prison work programs and presents limited data addressing the extent to which correctional mid-managers would support the privatization of prison industries. The model presented here proposes that privatization of prison industry be restricted to businesses which have moved off-shore to take advantage of lower wages as a way of meeting the objections based on unfair competition. This study further indicates that there is some support for the conten tion that correctional mid-managers would support such a program.

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