Log in Subscribe

A few of our stories and columns are now in front of the paywall. We at The Chief-Leader remain committed to independent reporting on labor and civil service. It's been our mission since 1897. You can have a hand in ensuring that our reporting remains relevant in the decades to come. Consider supporting The Chief, which you can do for as little as $3.20 a month.

Captive labor

Posted

To the editor:

"Profiting off Prisoners" (The Chief, Jan. 10) raises the following issues.

Prisoner labor is a way for already Scrooge-like employers to pay wages so low that only a re-institution of slavery would result in cheaper labor (maybe I shouldn't give President Trump any more ideas). Since the state provides convicts with room and board, there is not even a pretense of providing a living wage.

Also, the fact that many inmates do jobs that have them interacting with the public raises two questions. If these inmates are dangerous, wouldn't this endanger public safety? If they are not dangerous, why are they in prison?

But then again, there are plenty of people in prison who don't belong there and plenty walking around freely who should be there.

Richard Warren

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here