The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

Following several weeks of news about made-in-China mishaps, a particularly well-read, well-informed inmate (who can speak knowledgeably about balance of payments, trade deficits and the flow of capital and wages) offered this very personal microeconomic perspective:

"For me, in prison, I would gladly devote hours and hours of time (of which I have plenty) in exchange for the dignity of productive work; work that I can put on a resume, and maybe display in a portfolio.

"I dropped out of school in ninth grade. But in prison, I have taught myself
C++ and Visual Basic. I set up networks and repaired computers, and
C++ saved
the state thousands. I could be of use to any business that would set up a manufacturing operation here.

"While in `Big Cheshire,' I did graphic design work for nonprofits. I designed mugs and T-shirts and banners for Op Sail. I scanned sketches, tweaked the images for composition and contrast, adjusted colors. The people in New London were very pleased, I was told.

"I made plaques that were presented to awards recipients. I was trusted with a metal cutter and a laser engraver. I'm not claiming an award plaque for myself. But I have time, not a lot of distractions, and I have some talent that somebody could profit from."

The best dividend is dignity.

Another inmate was a bit skeptical about the hypothetical arrangement between a for-profit manufacturer and corrections. This inmate faithfully attends every class offered at prison, and has taken every in-prison opportunity to prepare himself for a life of community service on the outside. He would want a commitment, by the hypothetical manufacturer and the state, to use a portion of the enterprise's revenues to fund more inmate education programs.

While there was skepticism aplenty, there was no disagreement about whether the manufacturing could be done well.

As to labor politics, the solution would be to "recall" laid-off U. S. workers whose 20 and 30 years of experience could be re-employed at correctional facilities to train inmates. This job training might speed the recall of defective imported goods such as toothpaste tainted with diethylene glycol, toy trains decorated with lead paint and vehicle tires whose treads and steel belts are prone to separation.

Wouldn't everybody win?

The state could point to a worthwhile correctional/rehabilitation/job training program, which wouldn't cost the state money. The manufacturer would get low-cost labor without exporting the work, and would save on some transport and red-tape expenses.

The consumer - rightly concerned about quality control and product safety - would get made-in-the-USA goods at an acceptable price, with more quality control than we've experienced from factories in China.

Inmates would be acquiring employable skills - manufacturing skills, production-line supervision experience and perhaps some supply-chain management opportunities. There'd be pride in competing with operations abroad and besting them in output and quality. And, there would be on-the-job training, which would yield job recommendations for post-incarceration life and livelihood.

And, there was one inmate who allowed that, with a good job performance record to begin to offset a criminal record, there might be even more of a bargain to be made:

"I would gladly pay for my prison room and board - maybe a better room and better food - by working real jobs in the house. Pay me minimum wage, and I'll pay taxes and Social Security."

And, there would be a poignant import to the "exporting" he imagines:

"I would like to make things that my family and old my neighbors can use - and would want to buy from me." ________________________________

Joseph H. Cooper was editorial counsel at The New Yorker from 1976 to 1996. In addition to his work for community colleges, he teaches media law and ethics at Quinnipiac University.

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/op_ed/hc-cooper0903.artsep03,0,4331410.s
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