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August 25, 2008
Wash. state welcomes back private jobs in prisons
August 25, 2008
Wash. state welcomes back private jobs in prisons
Seattle Post Intelligencer
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TACOMA, Wash. -- More than four years after the state Supreme Court ruled that private companies could not operate out of state prisons, businesses are being to asked to give it a go again.
A recruiter has been hired by the state Department of Corrections to contact chambers of commerce seeking interest for the Class I Correctional Industries program.
A similar program was shut down after the state's high court ruled in May 2004 that the use of inmates by some companies violated the state constitution. At the time, the program involved about 300 inmates.
Last November voters approved a constitutional amendment to allow contracting with private companies willing to hire inmates at some of Washington's 17 prisons.
State Sen. Debbie Regala, D-Tacoma, said it was difficult to persuade fellow legislators to support putting the measure on the ballot because many were concerned that prison job programs would pose unfair competition to businesses.
"We made it really clear that when we recruit new industry, we make sure we're not recruiting someone who will be a challenge for other businesses," said Regala, one of four legislators who sit on the Correctional Industries board of directors. "We will have to do an analysis of the business plan to make sure nothing poses an unfair advantage over private-sector companies."
The prison system has other job programs, including a Class II operation in which inmates build furniture and other products for state use.
Class I jobs would offer pay ranging from the state minimum wage, currently $8.07 an hour, to as high as $12 an hour, money that inmates could use to pay for the cost of their incarceration or to cover their obligations to a victim's compensation fund. The jobs could also provide training for inmates before they are released.
Regala said she is confident the state can reconnect with companies that had prison operations four years ago.
"We're not relying simply on those folks who were there before," Regala said, "but I'm confident we know how to get a hold of them. Some of them have stayed in touch with us."
Danielle Wiles, policy and performance manager for Correctional Industries, said the state hopes companies will begin returning to the prisons by early next year.
"We're just making initial contact with a few companies that have shown some interest," Wiles said.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wa_prison_jobs.html
Posted by lois at August 25, 2008 10:00 PM