http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21572201-government-wants-prisoners-be-more-productive-their-release-well-after
This Economist article highlights an interesting plan recently outlined by the British government. The ruling coalition describes its penal reform as turning prisons into "industrious places of productive work." Basically, the British government is beginning to offer prisoners more vocational training, and allow part-time work while in prison. This part-time work will often take place at local businesses outside of the prison and will generally pay very low wages, if any at all. In addition to the general societal benefit of cheap labor, the article describes how prisoners who hold something close to a 'real job' while in prison may be less prone to reoffend once they are released.
Prison management is a persistent problem for most governments around the world. In trying to deal with crowded prisons, American politicians could benefit from looking overseas for fresh ideas. Could this same plan work in the United States?
This Economist article highlights an interesting plan recently outlined by the British government. The ruling coalition describes its penal reform as turning prisons into "industrious places of productive work." Basically, the British government is beginning to offer prisoners more vocational training, and allow part-time work while in prison. This part-time work will often take place at local businesses outside of the prison and will generally pay very low wages, if any at all. In addition to the general societal benefit of cheap labor, the article describes how prisoners who hold something close to a 'real job' while in prison may be less prone to reoffend once they are released.
Prison management is a persistent problem for most governments around the world. In trying to deal with crowded prisons, American politicians could benefit from looking overseas for fresh ideas. Could this same plan work in the United States?
3 comments:
This is a very forward thinking way of approaching the prison system. If this vocational training and job experience helps prisoners as they enter the free world, it is important to be a part of a similar system.
I think presentation of something like this is difficult from many standpoints. My first thought is that we currently have a higher unemployment rate that normal. If there are jobs that people in the prison system are taking from those not in the prison system, it would seem unfair to me.
I like the idea of vocational training. However, allowing these prisoners to work outside of the prison boundaries poses many issues in my opinion. Based on my American point of view I cant imagine there being too many supporters of this program. There would be many complaints of wages for workers. How can anyone in the work force compete with minimal or no wages? Although this could lead to a less expensive product to the consumer, their might be a negative stigma associated with the product and the amount of "free" citizens missing out on work in those cities could be significant.
These methods are already used in the United States in some areas. I know that men from the nearby prison have worked on projects for my dad's company before, with a guard supervising them of course. I have also seen a documentary (I forget the title) about vocational training in women's prisons in the US.
I think that this is a great idea. Prisons are spending too much money on inmates and are overcrowded. This is a way for them to potentially make some money off of the prisoners while also allowing for more space (if shifts are taken on when different groups leave the premises). It also provides prisoners with a skill set that they can use once they are released, which could break their cycle of committing crimes.
Post a Comment