I am pro prisoners working while in prison.
I am posting this due to backlash from comments made on a post regarding "prisoners working in prison (specifically, printing stop signs) being modern day slavery". My pro stance on prisoners working was taken as me supporting slavery.
I do NOT support slavery. I DO support working while incarcerated.
If you do not agree with me, that is fine, but if you feel like this is me encouraging slavery please kindly unfollow me.
If you decide to unfollow, do proceed to stop purchasing or going to some of these places on this short list.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thrillist.com/amphtml/gear/products-made-by-prisoners-clothing-furniture-electronics
There are many more places and items to add to this. This includes:
Dogs and horses trained by parolees to be used as service animals.
Energy supplied to communities due to prisoners bicycling or building solar panels for alternative energy.
The very real scenario of prisoners printing licenses plates.
The very bed you are sleeping on needs to be tossed out pronto.
If you like vintage things, especially Ikea vintage, throw that out too while you are at it.
Better strip naked too, some of your clothing may have been made by prisoners.
I am not saying this to make you agree with me but it seems logical that if you are taking a stand against prisoners working that you will immediately began campaigning against products that they created. That in perspective, if you choose to research prison made materials further, you will see that many articles on google will be bias. The tone of the article is usually slanted in a way that makes it obvious the writer wants you to be against the idea of prisoners working and that this is slavery or that it is particularly unsavory. This is unprofessional and inappropriate on these writers part as rule numero uno of journalism is to report unbiasedly. But that is getting away from my point, which is, why I am Pro prisoners working.
First off, consider the origins of slavery. If one is a slave, they are working usually against their will for a master. When prisoners work, attend school, or join a rehab program in prison this is by CHOICE. Yes, prisoners are paid below minimum wage for this, however, they are providing positive contributions whereas at first they would be in their cell doing nothing but spinning their wheels in boredom. Note, while prisoners are doing nothing in prison it does not come cheap. Unless the prison is privately owned, it is taxpayers providing prisoners with adequate but not glorious bedding, heat, water, electricity, food, and even healthcare. It is a shame to say this but seeing as their basic needs are being met continuously in prison, some prisoners live better than nonoffending homeless people in America! Second, working in prison usually provides prisoners with commissary monies which they use while in prison and can shave time off of their prison sentences. Thirdly, some of these jobs in prison may teach a trade which can be used to further help society out of prison (some prisons teach welding for example, this is a VERY lucrative profession). Even the socalled lowly position of printing a plate is teaching factory skills which can be used outside the penitentiary at a factory.
Overall, working in prison is not slavery, instead one should consider it as a way to make a means of oneself behind bars.
Again, I am not saying I support slavery. I do support bettering onesself and learning new skills in a bad situation.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thrillist.com/amphtml/gear/products-made-by-prisoners-clothing-furniture-electronics
https://www.npr.org/2015/09/07/437589596/amid-a-shortage-of-welders-some-prisons-offer-training
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.today.com/amp/series/veterans/prison-inmates-train-service-dogs-help-military-veterans-t109562
https://www.google.com/amp/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN14V1J4
Google "prison made materials"
