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On the one hand, you don't really want there to be much of an economy in prison. The more money inmates make the more they have to bribe corrections workers an

On the one hand, you don't really want there to be much of an economy in prison. The more money inmates make the more they have to bribe corrections workers and create an unsafe environment. On the other hand, we can't keep wages so low in these institutions that basic hygiene items require a hours on hours of work. How do you expect someone to go from incarcerated to living in the world with no money? I swear we just love to create problems in this country and then wonder out loud how those problems came to be.

Broken_Hippo 8y ago
There are definitely ways to restrict what folks spend on and who they send money to. One of the easiest ways would be to set up a normal, non-interest earnings savings account with no cash on site. For personal use items, simply require they all come from the prison roster of stuff, and have a selection. Allow folks to send to limited family members: Parents, spouses, and domestic partners would get it if they lived together and had help from the person before the crime. Underage children could get it automatically (and probably should get it if the person had parental rights or child support to pay). Again, there would be no cash and reasonable limits on things from the commissary. Everything else can be saved so that folks have a good start when they get out. As far as bribing corrections officers: I'd honestly say part of the answer to this would be to train folks well (more than 2 months of training), pay them well enough to get good candidates, and make sure to keep the prison's well-staffed without relying on overtime. This is a hurdle, though, as most of the places will say they can't afford it.
SahAssar 8y ago
If you keep people in a prison you are also obligated to feed them and keep them supplied with basic necessities like basic hygiene items. Nobody in prison should need to work to wash themselves or brush their teeth.
siruncledrew 8y ago
Adding income equality to prison would make the problems way worse. Basic hygiene stuff should just be provided by the prison (probably something a contract company like Aramark could easily and cheaply provide). I suppose the main returns of value to a prisoner are time or money. It seems fair to offer a choice of getting a reduced sentence vs. getting paid (probably max. minimum wage). Making someone in prison understand choices and consequences of choices seems like a key thing to understand while there. It's like living with a concrete bench - you'll survive, but you won't enjoy it. Of course, this stuff might only apply to a certain group of prisoners.

Broken_Hippo 8y ago

There are definitely ways to restrict what folks spend on and who they send money to. One of the easiest ways would be to set up a normal, non-interest earnings savings account with no cash on site. For personal use items, simply require they all come from the prison roster of stuff, and have a selection. Allow folks to send to limited family members: Parents, spouses, and domestic partners would get it if they lived together and had help from the person before the crime. Underage children could get it automatically (and probably should get it if the person had parental rights or child support to pay). Again, there would be no cash and reasonable limits on things from the commissary. Everything else can be saved so that folks have a good start when they get out. As far as bribing corrections officers: I'd honestly say part of the answer to this would be to train folks well (more than 2 months of training), pay them well enough to get good candidates, and make sure to keep the prison's well-staffed without relying on overtime. This is a hurdle, though, as most of the places will say they can't afford it.

SahAssar 8y ago

If you keep people in a prison you are also obligated to feed them and keep them supplied with basic necessities like basic hygiene items. Nobody in prison should need to work to wash themselves or brush their teeth.

siruncledrew 8y ago

Adding income equality to prison would make the problems way worse. Basic hygiene stuff should just be provided by the prison (probably something a contract company like Aramark could easily and cheaply provide). I suppose the main returns of value to a prisoner are time or money. It seems fair to offer a choice of getting a reduced sentence vs. getting paid (probably max. minimum wage). Making someone in prison understand choices and consequences of choices seems like a key thing to understand while there. It's like living with a concrete bench - you'll survive, but you won't enjoy it. Of course, this stuff might only apply to a certain group of prisoners.