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Mamabudz

From a Friend:

8/2/03

One of the first questions my new roommates asked me when I arrived last April was, "Do you have money?" I thought maybe they were going to hit me up for some, but they went on to say, "Prison is expensive." They handed me a commissary form and began highlighting the basics I would need to get started:
Running shoes, $60. The prison issued steel toed shoes really
start to hurt after a few hours.
Watch, $35. You don't dare be late for anything, especially a
count.
Walkman style radio, $40. NPR and the BBC are my links to the
world.
Sweatsuit, $17. Did I mention that my room is air-conditioned to
57 deg?
Stamps, $7.40; envelopes, $0.80; notebook paper, $0.90; ballpoint pen,$0.50.
Ball cap, $4.25; sunscreen, $3.55.
Shower shoes $0.90; dental floss, $1.25.
Enough additional socks and underwear so that I can do laundry once a week, $16.
Laundry detergent, $3.45; 10 laundry tokens, $2.
Combination lock, $5.70.
Coffee mug, $1.85; instant coffee, $4.90; tea bags, $2.50.
It's very easy to spend $200 on your first shopping trip!

Many prisoners have no financial support from the outside. They rely on prison wages for all of their "extras". I'm at the bottom of the pay scale and I've been making $18 per month. I spend more than that just on stamps.

For most of us, phone calls are a high priority on our budget. At 20 cents per minute, I will need $60 per month to be able to use all of my 300 minute allowance. It's very sad to see women who have to wait until pay day to call home to speak to their children or parents.

It is possible to earn more. With a high school diploma or GED, an inmate is eligible for a raise to 17 cents per hour. But, my
supervisor doesn't think my work is worth 17 cents an hour.

UNICOR, known around here as "the Honduran sweat shop" pays higher wages, beginning at 23 cents per hour. Some workers make a bit more than $1 per hour and overtime at double wages is often available.

But UNICOR is a for-profit company, providing goods and services in competition with corporations subject to labor and wage laws.
Inmates with large restitution requirements are encouraged to apply for a UNICOR job, and then expected repay at least $25 per month.

If you are considering doing some time here, start saving now!

Peace,

Marilyn

____________

UNICOR click here for more about Federal prison labor

I found this a very interesting letter.

Hugz,

Mama Budz

 

Niteshift

Sorry Mama, but my sympathy meter doesn't register there.

Many of the items are, in fact, luxury items and not really necessities. The prison will ensure you are clothed, shod and fed. If you don't like the shoes, tough. If you don't like the clothes tough. If you don't like the food tough. It's prison, not a resort.

From the sound of it, this person is in a very minimum security facility. That she does her own laundry indicates that. Most prisons have prisoners doing laundry detail.

Likewise, the fact that they allegedly issued her steel toed shoes indicates a lower level of security. Many prisons have numerous metal detectors and steel toed shoes would set them off. That's why even the guards use non-steel toed polymer toed boots if they want the extra protection.

Also, she mentions needing a watch so she's not late to anything. Most "real" prisons move you in organized fashions, not relying on you to show up because you are freely moving around.

Lastly, the prices on some of those items are lower than most of us would pay. Glad they get the prison discount.

__________________
A burning desire for social justice is never a substitute for knowing what you're talking about. -Thomas Sowell

Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is muzzle flash.

Proud_Canadian

ok - let me rephrase.

i dont actually want this to happen - but think of what the world would be like if all criminals were shot to death.

so much nicer wouldn't you agree?

CheebaMonkey

I think I'd rather be dead than live in your society Proud_Canadian.

Or in some other country.

Think of all the drug arrests in the US and then all of the lost fingers or lives it would produce.

What exactly is a person with no fingers going to do? Kinda limits their job scope, and they would probably turn to crime because they have no choice.

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Growguy

if i lived in proud canadian's world, i would have no fingers, and probally be dead in a ditch somewhere.

however, back on subject. I read that for each inmate in a real prison, it costs taxpayers 43 000$ a year. It argued that if NON-VIOLENT offenders were put into work programs, not only do they earn their own money but they become a member of society again. For example, marijuana dealers/growers.

growguy

 

jebus

you confused me, so were the prison roommates? or did you not go to jail at all. And if not why did your room mates say prison is expensive and give you a price list lol im soooo confused over your post its driving me crazy lol

Anyways i forget where i heard it but it might have been a news paper or cnn but they say that prisoners eat better then the average american. thats pretty bad eh? if your on welfare and dieing from starvation it makes prison sound almost good doesnt it. free food, free clothes, and a roof over your head

__________________
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Larmer

Ok, I agree with Niteshift that those are all luxury items, tough luck.

However, how the hell does an organization such as Unicor get away with disregarding labour laws? From a capitalistic competitive outlook, that's ****ing ridiculous. From a moralistic human rights perspective, that's outright slave labour.

So from my point of view, no matter what your leanings, this should be a frickin' outrage....

And Proud Canadian: Are you ****ing daft?

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Mamabudz

Not a problem...

Found this a discussion provoking letter sent to me by folks in the Florida Green Party. Thought it would be interesting to see the response on here.

And as responses are what I was looking for, your knowledgeable response and perspective are most welcome.

Hugz,

Mama Budz

Shroud

I agree with Niteshift on this one, especially after some of his conclusions about the actual situation of the author of this letter.

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The thing that weirds me out about the squid is that they have humanlike eyeballs

Niteshift

However, how the hell does an organization such as Unicor get away with disregarding labour laws? From a capitalistic competitive outlook, that's ****ing ridiculous. From a moralistic human rights perspective, that's outright slave labour.

So from my point of view, no matter what your leanings, this should be a frickin' outrage....

The short answer is that the minimum wage laws exempt prison labor. However, in most cases, paid labor is the prisoners CHOICE so they can earn money, small as it may be.

There are some situations though, where companies pay full minimum wage, and the balance between the money paid and the money the prisoner receives is put into either a general victims compensation fund or, if the prisoner has a specific victim, into restitution accounts for that victim.

In THOSE cases, I think most of your objections will disappear, wouldn't they?