I've already lamented the bipartisan effort to scale back the too-small number of "prison industries" programs employing Texas convicts while they're incarcerated, so rather than separately analyze SB 1169 by state Sen. Robert Nichols, which is up today in the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee, I'll just point readers to the item I wrote when the companion bill was heard in the House: "False claim of unfair competition could limit in-prison work programs." Personally, I'd prefer the Legislature expand such programs instead of scale them back.
UPDATE: Sen. Nichols said in laying out the committee substitute that the altered bill will grandfather existing prison industry programs and that restrictions would only apply to new participants. The substitute also expands the number of prisoners who can participate in these programs from 400 - 750. That's definitely an improvement, but I still think it's unwise to erect new barriers to participation in prison industries programs.
If Texas can't (or won't) pay the inmates for the work they do in the kitchens, laundries, fields, etc. etc. it seems some opportunity should be given them to earn a wage in preparation for the real world. I think the current program (P.I.E.) divides up the inmate;s salary to pay for restitution, child support, room and board, and SAVINGS. An inmate needs more than $200 and a bus ticket when he gets out. The work opportunities certainly need expansion; let them charge market rates for their products and share in the profits along with TDCJ!
ReplyDeleteMany years ago inmates were allowed to sell their artwork.
ReplyDeleteDoes this program still exist?
What is our LEGISLATURE doing to
assist those leaving prisons?
What are they doing to change our "free" country to reduce the # of inmates. We have the largest
PRISON POPULATION IN THE WORLD.
We should be ashamed. We should
treat the mentally ill elsewhere as addicts and non-violent offenders.
Prisoners get $ 50.00 and a bus ticket when they leave Huntsville and an additional $ 50.00 when they see their PO . Senator Nichols succeeded in shutting down Direct Trailer Manufactoring at the Michael Unit in Tennessee Colony , claiming it put Lufkin Trailers out of business. Therefore Direct Trailer moved their business to Mississippi prisons.
ReplyDeleteMakes a lot of sense???
And who (Retired TDC) all are/were in the Mississippi Corrections System?
ReplyDelete