# Why do some prison inmates work for a few cents an hour? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 29, 2015, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214 "2015-01-29T11:12:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/1 "2015-01-29T11:12:15Z")
One reads about inmates in American prisons who work chores/jobs for just a few pennies per hour. Why exactly do they do this? Do they get to spend the accumulated money on goods at the prison canteen? Is it worth their time and labor to earn the few pennies per hour? Or are they simply required to do these chores/jobs whether they like it or not, and the few cents per hour are simply what they get for it? What happens if the prisoners refuse to work? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/2 "2015-01-29T11:16:15Z")
In the UK, prisoners can earn small amounts of money in the same way. They use it to buy toiletries and pay for phone calls. If they don’t want to work - they don’t get paid. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/3 "2015-01-29T11:28:28Z")
Prisoners are required to work. The money they get paid is just a bonus for them. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/4 "2015-01-29T11:40:47Z")
1. In some cases work is required and they may be put in the hole for refusing to work 2. In some cases prisoners don’t have anyone on the outside to send them money so work is the only way they have access to canteens. They only need enough money for their ramen and honey buns, not enough to pay rent. 3. Anything is better than sitting in a cell alone all day. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/5 "2015-01-29T12:03:05Z")
I volunteer at a maximum security prison in southern Ohio. Most of what I know about this has already been mentioned. The prisoners I talk to say that being in prision without any spending money is very difficult. The prison system doesn’t even supply basic toiletries. For those who have no financial support from family or friends outside, the pittance they get paid is the only way they can afford soap and tooth paste. Most of the guys I know value their jobs because it gives them 8 hours or more a day outside of their cells, opportunities to talk to people outisde of their block, and a feeling of productivity. Performing their job reliably gains them some favor from the staff, and reflects well on them when it comes time to meet the parole board. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/6 "2015-01-29T12:49:02Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > For those who have no financial support from family or friends outside, the pittance they get paid is the only way they can afford soap and tooth paste. They don’t get issued things like soap and toothpaste? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/7 "2015-01-29T13:27:55Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > They don’t get issued things like soap and toothpaste? :dubious: Not in Ohio prisons. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/8 "2015-01-29T13:39:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Prisoners are required to work. But are they required to do a good job? How do you deal with lack of incentive? ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/9 "2015-01-29T13:45:23Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > But are they required to do a good job? How do you deal with lack of incentive? Prisoners can be made even more miserable than they already are through the infraction or ticket system. Lack of effort or failure to follow instructions can result in a ticket which can lead to losing one’s job assignment. The guys want these jobs. And at the prison where I volunteer, they are not required to work. There are fewer jobs than there are prisoners. \*\*Little Nemo \*\*knows a lot more about this than I do. I believe he was or is a correctional officer. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/10 "2015-01-29T14:02:21Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > They don’t get issued things like soap and toothpaste? :dubious: > [@Crotalus](#): > > Not in Ohio prisons. I’m surprised. They’re issued all the basic toiletries for free in New York. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/11 "2015-01-29T14:06:11Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > But are they required to do a good job? How do you deal with lack of incentive? If they don’t do a good job, they lose privileges. Like no TV for a week or you can’t go to the gym with your friends. It’s pretty much the way you get your kids to do their chores. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/12 "2015-01-29T14:28:28Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > But are they required to do a good job? How do you deal with lack of incentive? Working is a privilege and a very desired one for most prisoners. Not only for the small sums of money, but because Prison is, above all things, incalculably boring. Most prisoners would work for free, just for something to do. While prisoners can be forced to work a) this isn’t actually terribly common because the majority of prisoners would choose to work if given the opportunity; punitive work is usually unskilled and/or makework that doesn’t have to be done on any particular timetable or in any particular way. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/13 "2015-01-29T14:44:05Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m surprised. They’re issued all the basic toiletries for free in New York. The inmates tell me that they receive a small supply of toiletries when they first arrive, but after that runs out it’s up to them to pay for it from the commisary. For inmates fortunate enough to have a radio or a TV, Ohio charges them [a dollar a month for electricity](http://www.toledoblade.com/State/2011/03/18/Cost-saving-ideas-for-Ohio-prisons-include-charging-inmates-1-a-month-for-power.html). ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/14 "2015-01-29T15:48:08Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Not in Ohio prisons. It makes you wonder why. I am sure that the cost of these items (considering that I am sure they are the cheapest variety and purchased in bulk) are not even a rounding error in the prison budget. It’s not like its actually saving a lot of money. It would not surprise me if it actually cost more money to have someone available to sell the items to the prisoners and handle the resulting cash. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/15 "2015-01-29T15:59:47Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > It makes you wonder why. I am sure that the cost of these items (considering that I am sure they are the cheapest variety and purchased in bulk) are not even a rounding error in the prison budget. It’s not like its actually saving a lot of money. It would not surprise me if it actually cost more money to have someone available to sell the items to the prisoners and handle the resulting cash. Think about the pettiness of the electricity charge I mentioned. That was put in place to save $250,000 per year. The way inmates at the prison I volunteer in buy stuff doesn’t involve cash or going to a shop within the prison. They get an order form, check off the things they want, and it is delivered to their cell. The cost is deducted from their prison account. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/16 "2015-01-29T16:06:37Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > … > While prisoners can be forced to work a) this isn’t actually terribly common because the majority of prisoners would choose to work if given the opportunity; punitive work is usually unskilled and/or makework that doesn’t have to be done on any particular timetable or in any particular way. What’s the most skilled job that one can commonly get in prison? E.g. if you were an accountant, how easy is it to get a job in the prison’s accounting department? Or if you were an HR guru “on the outside”, will they let you be the “HR guy” in prison? ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/17 "2015-01-29T16:50:37Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > What’s the most skilled job that one can commonly get in prison? E.g. if you were an accountant, how easy is it to get a job in the prison’s accounting department? Or if you were an HR guru “on the outside”, will they let you be the “HR guy” in prison? No. The jobs available to inmates are all defined in advance, and they are mostly low-skill to no-skill: kitchen, janitorial, yard maintenance, basic secretarial/clerk (e.g., in the library or the chaplain’s office), etc. At some facilities, there are some slightly more skilled jobs available in the maintenance trades (such as plumbing repairs); I know a gentleman who worked on a crew running conduit for the security cameras. Occasionally, there may be some fairly high-skill technical jobs, particularly if the facility has its own water treatment plant or the like, but those jobs are both highly coveted and rarely available. There are also specialized programs: the [Wild Horse Program](http://www.doc.ks.gov/facilities/hcf/programs/horse) at Hutchinson Correctional Facility has inmates caring for and training animals that are then available for adoption, while [Ellsworth Correctional Facility](http://www.doc.ks.gov/facilities/ecf/programs-1) has programs to refurbish used bicycles and wheelchairs. There are also “prison industry” jobs, where the prison makes products or provides services for consumption by other government agencies and non-profits. For example, in Kansas back when the state had its own motor pool, inmate labor did a lot of the routine maintenance (oil changes and the like), and they still have a print shop, chemical plant (mostly paints and cleaning supplies), furniture and upholstery shop, sewing shop, etc., as well as data entry and microfilming operations. See [Kansas Correctional Industries](http://www.kancorind.com/shop/) catalog. Some prisons have “private industry” jobs available, when a private company has a plant on or adjacent to the prison grounds and employs primarily inmate labor. Jensen Engineering has (had?) an office at Lansing Correctional where inmates did CAD drawings, as well as a screen-printing plant, while an agricultural equipment facility at Ellsworth had inmates who did welding and other metal fabrication. (Private industry jobs pay at least minimum wage.) ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/18 "2015-01-29T16:55:57Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > What’s the most skilled job that one can commonly get in prison? E.g. if you were an accountant, how easy is it to get a job in the prison’s accounting department? Or if you were an HR guru “on the outside”, will they let you be the “HR guy” in prison? It depends on the prison, but no, you can’t be in charge of hiring while being a prisoner, lol. You have a very flighty imagination. Even in Federal Minimum security prisons, which don’t even have a perimeter fence, you work around 90 days in food service before you can request another assignment. Under the Prison Industry Engancement Certification Prigram, any prison job that makes goods that move in interstate commerce has to pay the same as nonincarcerated people doing that job make. PIECP programs are where you make the best pay. The most skilled jobs are probably in the mechanical or carpentry trades. Some of most desirable jobs involve working with animals. There’s a thoroughbred retirement farm in a prison in upstate NY. Other prisons train service dogs. Indoor, white collar jobs are usually things like customer service and call center work. You can probably become a shift supervisor, I’m not 100% sure. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/19 "2015-01-29T17:17:08Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Under the Prison Industry Engancement Certification Prigram, any prison job that makes goods that move in interstate commerce has to pay the same as nonincarcerated people doing that job make. And even that isn’t for the protection of the prisoners, but to protect competing private business from being undercut by prison labor. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214/20 "2015-01-29T17:18:38Z")
Here in South Dakota, we have [Pheasantland Industries](http://doc.sd.gov/adult/industry/) as well as the [Governor’s House Program](http://www.sdhda.org/homeownership/governors-house-program/governors-house-program.html) which provide jobs for the inmates. As well, the inmates often work at other government institutions doing cleanup, grounds keeping, clerical and other jobs. They are also put to work cleaning up after natural disasters and such. Idle hands are the devil’s work after all 😉 . [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-prison-inmates-work-for-a-few-cents-an-hour/711214.md?page=2)