To get away with their law, Greenleaf and his political mutants want to simply change the signs on the outsides of the prisons. But the senate jerks aren't the only ones dreaming up legal silliness. Prisoners have only tiny amounts of money. That's in a month, remember. It's hardly enough money for the prisoner to buy television service and the food and essentials that he needs to make up for the shortages of the state.
Most prisoners struggle by with little gifts from family and loved ones.
Otherwise they would be utterly destitute. Even now, very few have enough money to get into court to fight for their rights and their innocence. Don't give them a chance to get legal help. That's a hundred times more money than the inane scheme would collect. While Birmelin is certainly a dilly of a throw-back, he's not alone.