Working U.S. prisoners at 12 cents an hour is way cheaper than employing somebody in Mexico, Honduras, Macau, Taiwan for 50 cents an hour. And gosh, prisoners can't collectively bargain or strike. I imagine that some people in our wonderful government view U.S. prison labor as the perfect solution for stopping the flight of U.S. business to labor-cheap venues abroad, and for breaking the power of many U.S. unions. Ironically, anyone who wants to see prisons more commercially productive will have to come up with creative ways to end the violence in prison. Detroit, for example, would produce way fewer cars if that kind of disruption prevailed on civilian assembly lines.
Prison rape is a reflection of the general sexual violence that prevails outside the prison walls.
There aren't any easy fixes, I think. Somebody ought to be doing studies on how many rapists, sex criminals and domestic abusers have already done time behind bars and been victims or perpetrators of sexual violence there. If you are a journalist, or you are in politics, or you are active in your church, or whatever, you will hopefully join your voice with those of us who are concerned at the lengthening shadow of prison walls across American life. You can quote me by asking permission. Wildcat Press 8306 Wilshire Blvd.