Prison Labor: Exploitation or Opportunity?
Hola Sunday Morning Coffee-ites! I love CBS Sunday Morning News. It’s one of my personal luxuries. A cup of coffee (or two) and a mix of current events, pop culture, and a focus on the performing arts. Not to mention the sparkling trumpet at the beginning of the show (I’m a band Mom of a son who’s a brilliant trumpet player). This morning, there was an interesting story about prison labor. Every so often, the topic of prison labor comes up in the national conversation, and it’s usually framed as one of two extremes: either a modern form of slavery or a valuable rehabilitative tool. Like most things in life (and in corrections), the reality is more complex. So, grab your coffee, and let’s take a balanced look at the pros and cons of incarcerated labor.
The Good: Skills, Structure, and Second Chances
Work Experience and Skill Development
Many incarcerated workers gain hands-on experience in trades such as manufacturing, agriculture, food service, and maintenance. Some even earn certifications in fields like welding or commercial truck driving, which can increase post-release employment prospects. It’s not just classroom learning, it’s also invaluable on-the-job training and experience.
Programs like PIECP (Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program) ensure participants are paid at least minimum wage while gaining industry-recognized skills.
A Sense of Purpose and Structure
For people serving long sentences, working provides a daily routine, responsibility, and a sense of purpose—things that can be scarce in a prison setting.
A structured work environment can also reinforce soft skills like teamwork, punctuality, and professionalism, which are essential for success after release.
Financial Benefits for Incarcerated Individuals
Some prison labor programs allow workers to save money for release, send funds home to their families, or pay off court-ordered fines and restitution.
A few states even provide modest wages that can help cover personal expenses inside the facility, reducing reliance on family members or predatory commissary systems.
Reducing Recidivism
Research suggests that individuals who participate in vocational training and work programs while incarcerated are more likely to find stable employment and less likely to return to prison.
Programs that offer apprenticeships and job placement post-release—like The Last Mile (coding) or Mission: Launch (entrepreneurship)—have demonstrated success in breaking cycles of incarceration.
The Bad: Low Wages, Limited Opportunities, and Ethical Concerns
Wages That Barely Cover the Basics
Many incarcerated workers earn far below minimum wage, sometimes as little as a few cents per hour. In some states, wages are garnished for room and board, making it nearly impossible to save anything for reentry.
Even in programs where workers earn closer to market wages, deductions for taxes, victim restitution, and fees often leave them with very little take-home pay.
Limited Career Relevance
Some prison jobs don’t translate to post-release employment. While making license plates or processing laundry provides routine, it may not help someone land a living-wage job after release.
Many industries that benefit from prison labor—such as call centers, furniture manufacturing, and textile production—aren't accessible to formerly incarcerated individuals due to hiring discrimination. I have a colleague and friend who, during her incarceration, had a choice to make: education or work. That’s the policy in the state where she was incarcerated. She was a young mother with no high school diploma, but she needed the money from a job to send home, so she chose to work in a call center. Upon release, continuing with that company wasn’t an option, and working at a call center isn’t exactly a high-skilled job, so she came home with…nothing. No GED. No job. No industry certifications.
The Issue of Coercion
In some cases, incarcerated individuals are required to work, and refusing can result in disciplinary action, loss of privileges, or even time added to their sentence.
When work is mandatory and underpaid, it raises serious ethical concerns about fairness, labor rights, and the potential for exploitation.
Private Sector Profit vs. Public Good
Some corporations benefit immensely from cheap prison labor, leading to concerns about exploitation and profit-driven incarceration. Critics argue that companies and correctional agencies have little incentive to reduce prison populations if they rely on incarcerated labor.
A lack of transparency in how contracts are awarded and who benefits financially can make it difficult to ensure that prison labor programs operate ethically.
Just a note from this morning’s news program: seven states in the US don’t pay any wages for prison labor. All seven are in the South. One of which is my home state of Texas, where I know from personal experience the magnitude of the labor done by incarcerated people.
Finding a Middle Ground
The challenge isn’t whether incarcerated individuals should work—most want to. The question is how to make prison labor fair, ethical, and effective.
Some potential solutions include:
Fair wages: Programs like PIECP ensure workers are paid market wages, but this standard isn’t universal. Increasing wages and providing transparency in deductions could make these programs more equitable.
Expanding career-focused training: Ensuring incarcerated individuals gain skills that lead to real employment—such as tech, trades, and CDL licensing—would improve post-release outcomes.
Eliminating coercion: Work should be voluntary, with strong oversight to prevent abuse and ensure fair treatment.
Ultimately, prison labor can be both an opportunity and a problem, depending on how it’s structured. The key is ensuring that work opportunities in prison are dignified, ethical, and focused on rehabilitation—not just cheap labor for the system.
What do you think? Should prison labor be reformed, abolished, or expanded? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
