California prison labor program is thriving

http://www.caivn.org/article/2010/07/10/california-prison-labor-program-projected-run-16-million-surplus

California prison labor program projected to run $1.6 million surplus‎

by Chris HinyubSat, Jul 10th 2010

There is one state industry that's thriving during the current economic downturn, prison labor. Though profit margins are down, California's inmate labor program remains one of the few solvent aspects of the state government.

Owing to the fact that it doesn't rely on the General Fund, huge budget deficits haven't stopped the prison labor system from adopting a $180 million balanced budget for fiscal year 2010-11. It was approved by the governing board of the California Prison Industry Authority (CalPIA) during a June 29 meeting.

The Capitol Weekly quotes the the Authority's general manager, Chuck Pattillo:

“In these tough economic times the CalPIA has been able to maintain profitability through increased efficiencies, thereby continuing its self sufficiency...CalPIA is the CDCR’s (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) most successful rehabilitative program, and as a self sufficient program, CalPIA business operations help reduce prison violence, reimburse victims, save taxpayer dollars, and develop work skills.”

“I am proud of the hard work of the dedicated staff at CALPIA,” continued Pattillo. “In this atmosphere of layoffs and fiscal uncertainty, the CALPIA staff has been resilient and unwavering in their commitment to our mission.”

State law requires CalPIA to be a self-sufficient program. Here's the way it works. Prisoners are engaged in a work program that sells goods and services to pay for its own expenses. Profits are used to reduce Department of Corrections operational costs.

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Not so sure I like the idea of having a prison industry that is dependent on having plenty of people being incarcerated. Seems like it needs to have plenty of people locked up or the entire system fails.

Not that I'm against the concept of labor, or apprenticeships and job training. But this needs to be thought out critically to make sure people aren't just creating slaves, and the reinforcing socioeconomic conditions that lead to crime (and thereby, potential slaves)

That way people don't tend to do things that get them incarcerated.

Don

I figure prison labor is for companies who want to outsource without the problem of sending managers to language schools.

And, companies get to slap "Made in USA" labels on stuff to help them sell it to people who think they are supporting American workers.

Another reason for pot users being in the system, I think: Pot users tend to be less violent and easier to deal with. It's a two-fer! The state or private/for profit prisons don't have to hire as many guards, train them as well, pay them as well if a large chunk of the prison population not being so nasty and difficult to deal with AND they are pretty peaceful, less stressful workers.

Makes me furious that this nation complains, via diplomatic channels and media, about slave/prison labor abroad while supporting corporations who support it abroad and engage in it here!

And the taxpayer picks up the cost of medical care.

Man, what a deal.

Don

:hi: Don

Read, some years back, that some large hotel chains and airlines were jobbing out their reservation call lines to contractors who were, in turn, using prison labor to do the actual call center work. What fun: innocently give your credit card number to someone who might already be in prison for credit card fraud with friends on the outside who can do things with the information. My daughter actually knew someone who was in such a position. Amazing, isn't it?

prison nurse who made around $225k/year and I understand some prison employees can retire with 30 years at 90% of salary which can translate to retirement at age 50 at well over $100k/year plus nice benefits.

Crime really does pay for employees in CA's prison system for criminals.

program remains one of the few solvent aspects of the state government."

Profits go to owners. Compensation is an expense.

If you incarcerate people for nothing, then get them to work for pennies, you win.

Our legislators in DC and in every state congress are bound and determined to ride this gravy train. They love that prison money so much they invent all sorts of mandatory minimum sentences for minor offenses.

But most local jails i know are overcrowded in the extreme, with prisoners sleeping on filthy floors in jails designed to hold one half the population they now hold.

I's really sick. And legislators, judges and anyone else who thinks this is okay need to just rot in hell.

they are the new "plantation" lords, making a fortune off the enslavement of their fellow man.


Very sad. this is America. 2010.

Racist too, because of the large proportion of minorities in prison for minor crimes. It creates an incentive for making harsh laws so the Corporate Elites have their slave labor.

This is exactly why Marijuana will never be legalized.