Actually work programs would create jobs. Extra security would also be needed to preserve the guard to prisoner ratio, therefore creating even more jobs. They would be working towards self-support as well by farming their own food, doing prison maintenance, and getting psychological help for their rehabilitation. However, they would be allowed no extracurricular activities, no television, and limited contact with the outside world. Having prisoners farm their own food will not only save money, but also teach prisoners that they can have productive lives.
Prisoners already do prison maintenance such as laundry and food preparation.
This should be continued and increased to keep the prison costs down and keep the inmates busy. Both violent and non-violent offenders would receive the psychological attention necessary for rehabilitation. This will help ex-convicts to become productive members of society and increase their chances of staying out of jail. This proposal is also economically beneficial. Prisoners could construct their own housing and supply their own food.