The largest group of inmate jobs helps maintain the prison. This includes everything from inmate clerks to cooks' helpers and hospital orderlies to gardeners. Nearly every function of prison operation is assisted by inmate workers. Limited college-level courses also are available. Each year about 15,000 inmates take advantage of these educational opportunities.
Many complete course work for elementary and secondary diplomas.
Even an inmate's free time can be spent productively. Inmates make toys for deserving children, counsel youths about drugs and prison, take advantage of prison libraries, learn to paint or sculpt, or become involved in religious activities.