# There is a whole online store for stuff you can buy made by California State prisoners! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-whole-online-store-for-stuff-you-can-buy-made-by-california-state-prisoners/608997 "2012-01-10T01:42:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-whole-online-store-for-stuff-you-can-buy-made-by-california-state-prisoners/608997/1 "2012-01-10T01:42:24Z")
I found this fascinating. There is a [whole online store](http://pia.ca.gov/default.aspx)for stuff you can buy made by California State prisoners via the California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-whole-online-store-for-stuff-you-can-buy-made-by-california-state-prisoners/608997/2 "2012-01-10T02:13:21Z")
> [@](#): > > CALPIA products and services are available to government entities, including federal, state, and local governmental agencies. **The California Penal Code prohibits CALPIA from selling its products and services to the general public.** (Bolding mine.) [http://pia.ca.gov/About\_PIA/FastFacts.html](http://pia.ca.gov/About_PIA/FastFacts.html) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-whole-online-store-for-stuff-you-can-buy-made-by-california-state-prisoners/608997/3 "2012-01-10T06:15:29Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > (Bolding mine.) [http://pia.ca.gov/About\_PIA/FastFacts.html](http://pia.ca.gov/About_PIA/FastFacts.html) [There are still ways to get those CA prison shoes](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Men-Black-Leather-Oxford-Dress-Work-Shoes-11-D-NIB-FREE-Shipping-/120837963840?pt=US_Men_s_Shoes&hash=item1c22810040). ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-whole-online-store-for-stuff-you-can-buy-made-by-california-state-prisoners/608997/4 "2012-01-10T06:34:39Z")
My entire university’s made from these things. Browsing that catalog is like taking a virtual trip through the resident halls here. Sofa? Check. Chair? Check. The stuff from them is actually surprisingly well-made and durable, though they do have a rather… Spartan, prison-like aesthetic. Frankly, I wish the government would pay to train ME to build furniture the way these guys can. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-whole-online-store-for-stuff-you-can-buy-made-by-california-state-prisoners/608997/5 "2012-01-10T06:41:27Z")
The public can buy jeans that have been made by prisoners in Oregon. > **[404](https://oce.oregon.gov/404/)** > > 404 I have a pair of Prison Blues. Quite durable and well-made. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-whole-online-store-for-stuff-you-can-buy-made-by-california-state-prisoners/608997/6 "2012-01-10T06:50:03Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > The public can buy jeans that have been made by prisoners in Oregon. > > [http://oce.oregon.gov/products/112](http://oce.oregon.gov/products/112) > > I have a pair of Prison Blues. Quite durable and well-made. I love how they use the mugshot height wall (or at least that’s what it looks like) as a background, for that extra little bit of authentic ruggedness. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-whole-online-store-for-stuff-you-can-buy-made-by-california-state-prisoners/608997/7 "2012-01-10T07:52:38Z")
Now those are men who know how to get things. Here I thought the only things they made in prison were shivs and pruno.