corporations find their dream worker under massive for profit prison system
- Thread starter rickyb
- Start date
its 50%. it used to be 80% and the individual paid 20%
https://theintercept.com/2016/04/04...tes-call-for-strikes-to-protest-forced-labor/
"...
Instead, a majority of prisoners work for the prisons themselves, making well below the minimum wage in some states, and as little as 17 cents per hour in privately run facilities. In Texas and a few other states, mostly in the South, prisoners are not paid at all, said Erica Gammill, director of the Prison Justice League, an organization that works with inmates in 109 Texas prisons.
“They get paid nothing, zero; it’s essentially forced labor,” she told The Intercept. “They rationalize not paying prison laborers by saying that money goes toward room and board, to offset the cost of incarcerating them.”
In Texas, prisoners have traditionally worked on farms, raising hogs and picking cotton, especially in East Texas, where many prisons occupy former plantations.
“If you’ve ever seen pictures of prisoners in Texas working in the fields, it looks like what it is,” Greene said. “It’s a plantation: The prisoners are all dressed in white, they got their backs bent over whatever crop they’re tending, the guards are on horseback with rifles.” In the facilities Greene visited, prisoners worked all day in the heat only to return to cells with no air conditioning. “The conditions are atrocious, and it’s about time the Texas prison administration had to take note.”"
"...
Instead, a majority of prisoners work for the prisons themselves, making well below the minimum wage in some states, and as little as 17 cents per hour in privately run facilities. In Texas and a few other states, mostly in the South, prisoners are not paid at all, said Erica Gammill, director of the Prison Justice League, an organization that works with inmates in 109 Texas prisons.
“They get paid nothing, zero; it’s essentially forced labor,” she told The Intercept. “They rationalize not paying prison laborers by saying that money goes toward room and board, to offset the cost of incarcerating them.”
In Texas, prisoners have traditionally worked on farms, raising hogs and picking cotton, especially in East Texas, where many prisons occupy former plantations.
“If you’ve ever seen pictures of prisoners in Texas working in the fields, it looks like what it is,” Greene said. “It’s a plantation: The prisoners are all dressed in white, they got their backs bent over whatever crop they’re tending, the guards are on horseback with rifles.” In the facilities Greene visited, prisoners worked all day in the heat only to return to cells with no air conditioning. “The conditions are atrocious, and it’s about time the Texas prison administration had to take note.”"
teamer
Well-Known Member
when did we decide we now need to provide prisoners a good wage and living as a reward for committing crimes?
rod
Retired 22 years
Would they prefer to spend their days locked in a cell 24/7? From what I've seen on my travels around Texas it don't appear that the cons are overly worked or being beat with whips. In fact from what I've seen 17 cents an hour might be overpaying them. They are not now or have ever been an overly motivated bunch.
DriveInDriveOut
Inordinately Right
You don't see any problem with privately owned prisons forcing prisoners to work for free? Then spending millions of dollars lobbying against common sense drug laws and for harsher penalties? Anything to keep their free workforce. And who do you think really pays for this? We're subsidizing their profits with our tax money they get for each prisoner.
Come on man, surely you can see the writing on the wall here.
teamer
Well-Known Member
don't do the crime...
DriveInDriveOut
Inordinately Right
I didn't do any crime, yet I'm responsible for paying taxes that go to corporations running prisons making billions off this system of forced labor. Then they spend that money lobbying to crooked politicians that refuse to reform our terrible drug laws, which destroy our communities,and costs me even more money in handouts for fatherless families......
Wake up man.
rod
Retired 22 years
I didn't realize you were talking about private prisons---carry on
teamer
Well-Known Member
keeps em off the streets . That means I can sleep at night.
DriveInDriveOut
Inordinately Right
Fear is a powerful motivator for people like you I guess. Even if it's completely irrational.
newfie
Well-Known Member
it is nice being able to sleep at night.
teamer
Well-Known Member
fear was not mentioned . Peace of mind was. its a reward for people who comply with the law. no need for you to pout just because I disagree with you.
BrownArmy
Well-Known Member
Peace of mind...
"It's a reward for people who comply with the law."
"keeps em off the streets . That means I can sleep at night."
Who is being kept off your streets?
Were you having trouble sleeping before?
Sounds like you're afraid of the people who might have been on your streets.
Good thing cops in other towns are beating down the bad guys, choke holds and body-slamming, etc.
You must feel mucho-more safe.
Cheers.
newfie
Well-Known Member
you should lead by example and take a few strolls through some of Chicago's worse neighborhoods.
cheers.
I didn't have trouble sleeping until an armed robber attacked me outside a mom and pop store and then tried the same thing at my home after stalking/tailing me during a commute. I sleep better knowing he's in jail off the streets.
Glenn Greenwald @ggreenwald 11h11 hours ago
Glenn Greenwald Retweeted The Intercept
Profiting from encaging human beings
The Intercept @theintercept
Okla. sheriffs earn $27/day for each inmate they hold for the state, making up as much as 7% of some county budgets. Local Jails Profit From Warehousing State Prisoners
this was a pretty big deal when i first heard about it, but they bring up the guantanamo bay like torture centers in chicago that the police use to get false confessions. it included electrocuting mens privates, police shoving shotguns down their throats, and mock executions. and its still happening apparently.
hedges has asserted in the past that the viciousness of empire eventually turns in on itself. prime example. the militarized police would be another example.
at the beginning they said something about 95% of all cases ending in plea deals, so no jury. the system cant handle juries.
‘On Contact’ With Chris Hedges: Wrongfully Convicted and Living With the Consequences
hedges has asserted in the past that the viciousness of empire eventually turns in on itself. prime example. the militarized police would be another example.
at the beginning they said something about 95% of all cases ending in plea deals, so no jury. the system cant handle juries.
‘On Contact’ With Chris Hedges: Wrongfully Convicted and Living With the Consequences
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