An Examination of Incarcerated Workers’ Wages Across State Prisons

• In Event: New Directions in Correctional Research

Abstract

The institutionalization of prison labor is both a historical and political phenomenon deeply intertwined with the perpetuation of inequality. Within correctional facilities, it has been documented that incarcerated workers experience a wide range of issues including low pay, an unsafe working environment, and instances of coercion. Although inmate labor encompasses a range of jobs, from facility maintenance tasks such as cleaning to government-run ‘industry work’ such as furniture production, inadequate compensation for this work stands out as a consistent issue. While some states have introduced legislation to increase the pay among incarcerated workers, not all prison systems provide similar wages. The problem, however, is that there is no current or centralized database that documents prison wages or their variation across state prison systems. Without such data, it is difficult to understand the true scope or severity of labor exploitation in American prisons. To address these issues, in the current study, I compile recent data on incarcerated workers’ wages across all U.S. state prison institutions and describe how wages vary across states. I also examine existing state legislation and proposed reforms to get a better understanding of broader penal and economic relations. By conducting this descriptive study, I aim to build upon current research on labor exploitation of incarcerated persons, with a particular focus on low wages as a form of punishment.

Author

• Alena Gabrielson, University of Colorado Boulder