page_title: Paid prison labour
section_title: Wage payment
hierarchical_section_title: Paid prison labour / Wage payment
caption_attribution_description: Folsom Prison inmates working under the California Prison Industry Authority place new grave markers at Mormon Island Relocation Cemetery in El Dorado Hills, Calif., Oct. 19, 2011, replacing original markers that contained an offensive racial epithet. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District moved the 36 graves from the original Negro Hill Cemetery to the relocation cemetery during the construction of Folsom Dam in 1954, and created the offensive markers. El Dorado County, which manages the cemetery, and the California Prison Industry Authority collaborated on the project to replace the markers. (U.S. Army Photo/Chris Gray-Garcia)
context_page_description: Paid prison labour refers to the participation of convicted prisoners in either voluntary or mandatory paid work programs.
  While in prison, inmates are expected to work in areas such as industry, institutional maintenance, service tasks and agriculture. The most common work assignments contribute to facility support, such as food service, groundwork, building maintenance and office administration. This work is performed on a full- or part-time basis. However, exceptions include inmates who are medically unable to work, involved in full-time Educational or vocational training programs, or deemed a security risk.
  The benefits of paid labour for inmates may include heightened incentives for good behaviour, productivity and post-release skill development, in addition to improved emotional wellbeing. Prison institutions are benefited by minimised inmate idleness and potential for security issues, the completion of necessary maintenance tasks and reduced prison operating costs.
  Labour obligations and wage rates vary across different countries. For instance, prison work assignments are prevalent in the United States, with over half of prisoners being assigned a work program.
context_section_description: Prisons generally incorporate a no-cash system, meaning any amount of money an inmate possesses or earns is stored in a bank account managed by the correctional facility. The accumulated amount of money that a prisoner earns, brings into prison and is sent from family or friends may be used to make purchases (i.e. at the canteen). Any remaining credit is given to the prisoner upon release. During their time in prison, inmates are entitled to monthly printouts of their electronic account balance.
  Electronic kiosks are emerging as a more efficient alternative to the traditional paper-based system. Predominantly in private prisons, automated kiosks allow inmates to check their account balance and place their canteen orders.
  Methods of wage payment vary across prisons. Payment may be based on an hourly rate, cover a time period (i.e. monthly) or be determined on piece work. Inmates may also earn extra for overtime, the longevity of their employment or receive payments through workers’ accident compensation. Some correctional facilities pay prisoners for their participation in educational programs or vocational training.
  In most cases, wage payments are made weekly based on an hourly rate. Attendance records are kept for all working prisoners. Within the wage levels attributed to each inmate's classification, workers generally begin on their determined minimum wage and proceed to the maximum level according to longevity or proficiency at work.
  Prison labour wages are characteristically low. In the US, the average daily minimum wage for non-industry penal jobs was US$0.86 in 2017 compared to US$0.93 in 2001. The average daily maximum wage for industry-type work also declined from US$4.73 in 2001 to US$3.45 in 2017. Inmates working for state-owned businesses earned between US$0.33 and US$1.41 per hour in 2017 – about twice the amount paid to inmates who work regular prison jobs.
  With a few exceptions, regular prison jobs (cleaning, groundskeeping, kitchen and clerical work) remain unpaid in the U.S states of Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Alabama and Arkansas.
caption: Folsom Prison inmates replacing grave markers at Mormon Island Cemetery, 2011
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