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| Groups Sue Washington State Over Prison Labor |
| By Fox News |
| Published: 12/18/2003 |
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The Washington State Supreme Court has agreed to take a case filed by business and labor leaders who have sued the state, complaining that jobless workers are being cut out of positions at companies because of unfair competition from prisoners. The plaintiffs say that businesses are getting the state to provide cheap labor, cut-rate utility fees and free office space as a result of their providing inmate laborers to make everything from embroidered pillows to airplane parts. Corrections officers say the training gives convicts the chance to learn job skills, earn money and sock it away in mandatory savings accounts that inmates can access after they are released from prison. Supporters of the program also say most of their $15-per-hour wages go to the state, which uses the money to pay for prison costs and compensation to crime victims. But at least one former prisoner told Fox News that he agreed with the business leaders, and the state shouldn't be subsidizing businesses in order to get them to provide job skills to inmates. Twenty-one states now run inmate-private industry partnerships. Many of those states are keeping a watchful eye out, waiting to see if the state Supreme Court's ruling will affect their programs. |
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