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October 12, 2007
Detroit Free Press Editorial: Business plan helps prisoners and prisons
Business plan helps prisoners and prisons
Detroit Free Press Editorial
October 11, 2007
Michigan legislators haven't done much lately that's worth bragging about, but they have gotten some things right. Among them was recent approval of a bill signed into law last week by Gov. Jennifer Granholm that will enable the state to employ more of the state's 50,000 prison inmates without using tax dollars.
Lost in the chaotic action of recent weeks on the state budget, the new law will allow state prisoners to make clothing for general sale, most likely dress shirts and khakis, as long as the products don't compete with a Michigan business. The Michigan Department of Corrections should develop a business plan and start production as quickly as possible. Prison factories already make uniforms for correctional officers and some police agencies, so the machinery is in place.
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Up to now, prison factories, called Michigan State Industries, could sell products only to government agencies and nonprofits. The industries employ 1,000 inmates, who earn up to 90 cents an hour -- top wages for prisoners. Besides clothing, prison industries also make license plates, office furniture and cleaning supplies, but the new law applies to clothing only.
Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, introduced the bill. Allen, who owns a men's clothing store, was inspired by Oregon's successful Prison Blues program.
Michigan State Industries is self-supporting through a revolving fund. The Department of Corrections, facing another $100 million in cuts, offers too few education, vocational and work programs. Expanding prison industries is a good way to keep more inmates busy, teach job skills and a work ethic, and provide a little money for inmates and their families -- at no cost to taxpayers.
That's a deal legislators couldn't afford to pass up.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071011/OPINION01/710110354/1069
Posted by lois at October 12, 2007 11:03 AM