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Prison Slave Labor Replaces Freeworld Workers in Down Economy
Loaded on May 15, 2012
by David Reutter
published in Prison Legal News
May, 2012, page 1
Filed under:
Work,
Prison Industries,
Prison Labor,
Chain Gangs.
Location:
United States of America.
The fact that prison slave labor can cut costs and generate revenue has never been a secret. Private businesses nationwide are vying to exploit prisoner workers to reduce operating expenses and gain a competitive advantage, while government agencies are increasingly using prisoners for jobs that otherwise would go to …
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More from this issue:
- Prison Slave Labor Replaces Freeworld Workers in Down Economy, by David Reutter
- Report Deconstructs Urban Legend of 100,000 Missing Sex Offenders, by David Reutter
- Work Crews Salvage Georgia Prison Contract, by David Reutter
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Eighth Circuit Affirms No First Amendment Right to Lower Prison Phone Rates, by Matthew Clarke
- PLN Public Records Suit Reveals Litigation Payouts for District of Columbia DOC, by Alex Friedmann
- Prisons: An Unsustainable Jobs Program
- Ninth Circuit Holds Phoenix New Times Executives May Sue Special Prosecutor over Improper Arrests; Prosecutor Disbarred, by Matthew Clarke
- Research Finds Capital Punishment System in California is Costly, Ineffectual
- New York Not Liable for DOCS’ Unauthorized Addition of Post-Release Supervision
- California Pilot Program Reduces Recidivism
- Georgia Court Rules Prisoners Held in County Facilities Barred from Suing State for Negligence
- Private Prison Health-care Industry Grows as States Cut Costs, Bringing in Millions of Dollars, by Yana Kunichoff
- Ninth Circuit Holds Hawaii Prison Officials Entitled to Qualified Immunity when Calculating Release Dates in Accordance with State Law
- Seventh Circuit Upholds Indiana DOC’s Ban on Pen-Pal Ads, by David Reutter
- Dramatic Increase in Number of Hispanics Sentenced to Federal Prison, by Matthew Clarke
- $3,750 Posthumous Settlement in California Prisoner’s Medical Suit
- Louisiana Sheriff Pleads Guilty to Corruption Charges
- Pennsylvania Businessman Sentenced to 18 Months in “Kids for Cash” Kickback Scandal
- Ninth Circuit Holds New Claims Need Only be Exhausted Prior to Filing Amended Complaint
- Florida Lawmakers Disband Correctional Medical Authority
- Pennsylvania Prisoner’s $185,000 Jury Award Reduced to $75,005, by Matthew Clarke
- New Director of Tennessee Corrections Institute Faces Conflict of Interest
- Florida Citizen Fights CCA over Public Records Request
- California: Federal Court Grants Increased Attorney Fee Rates in Armstrong Disability Case
- Ohio Prison Industry Cuts Over 35% of Workforce
- Washington State Corrections Secretary Resigns Due to Affair with Subordinate, by Matthew Clarke
- Ninth Circuit Rules Sheriff May be Held Liable for Violence in Los Angeles County Jails
- Tennessee Discontinues Polygraph Tests as Sex Offender Supervision Tool
- Juvenile Facility Guard’s Bigamous Marriage Complicates Death Benefits
- Arizona Privatizes Health Care in State Prison System
- California Appeals Court Holds Release from Prison Moots Challenge to Parole Denial
- New York Prison System Allows Same-Sex Partners to Participate in Family Reunion Program
- Seattle Federal Halfway House Case Manager’s Reentry Plan for Prisoner Allegedly Included Sex, Heroin, by Derek Gilna
- Arizona DOC Makes Visitors Pay for Prison Maintenance, Repairs, by Joe Watson
- Federal Bureau of Prisons Says DNA Backlog No Longer Exists, by Derek Gilna
- UNICOR Fraudsters Plead Guilty, Sentenced
- New Washington State Law Eliminates Tolling of Community Custody upon Violation
- Reports on Privatizing Ohio Prisons Indicate Savings are Illusory, by David Reutter
- Failure to Refute Expert Testimony Warrants Summary Judgment Against California Prisoner Suing for Medical Malpractice
- The Criminalization of Mental Illness in Missouri, by Christopher Cross
- Alabama Uses Federal Stimulus Money to Prop up Prison System
- Class Certified in Lawsuit Challenging Conditions at CCA-operated Indiana Jail, but Case Dismissed on Summary Judgment, by David Reutter
- Civil Commitment Must be Challenged through Commitment Proceedings Instead of Habeas Corpus, by Brandon Sample
- New Mexico Judge Arrested for Raping Prostitute
- Third Circuit: § 2241 is Proper Vehicle for BOP IFRP Challenges, by Mark Wilson
- Seven Argentine Military Officials Sentenced for Crimes against Prisoners
- News in Brief
More from David Reutter:
- Eight Circuit Reverses Denial of Partial Qualified Immunity in Detainee’s Pepper Ball Claim, Remands Excessive Force Claims, Sept. 1, 2026
- Nevada Prisoners, Families Call Out Predatory Tablet Program, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit: Error in Granting Judgment Prior to Adjudging Spoliation Motion, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity in Strip Searches Resulting from Anonymous Tips, Sept. 1, 2026
- Tenth Circuit: Colorado Governor Unentitled to Eleventh Amendment Immunity on Claim Related to DOC Religious Policies, Aug. 1, 2026
- Michigan Appeals Court: Witnesses Cannot be Forced to Wear Jail Clothes at Trial, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of State-Law Qualified Immunity in Scabies Case, Aug. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Revives Disabled Prisoner’s Claim for Denial of Out-of-Cell Exercise Time, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Washington DOC Barred from Putting Prisoners on Lockdown and Calling It “Programming”, Sept. 1, 2026. Prison Labor, Liberty Interests, Notice of Rules, Lockdowns, Statutory Construction/Interpretation.
- New ICE Detention Standards Appear Designed to Help GEO Group Avoid Paying Wages, Sept. 1, 2026. GEO Group/Wackenhut, Contractor Misconduct, Prison Labor, Immigration Detention.
- New Commission to Investigate Death and Abuse of 230 Black Children at Segregated Maryland Reformatory, Sept. 1, 2026. Racial Discrimination, Prison Labor, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Juvenile Prisons.
- The GEO Group Pays California $104,510 to Settle Workplace Safety Charges at ICE Detention Facility—Where Local Cops Won’t Investigate Crimes, Sept. 1, 2026. GEO Group/Wackenhut, Contractor Misconduct, Prison Labor, Work Conditions/Safety, Police/Govt Misconduct.
- Oklahoma Prisoners Made Political Calls for Conservative Super PAC, Sept. 1, 2026. Prison Industries, Prison Labor, Work Conditions/Safety, Elections.
- Seventh Circuit Holds Federal Law Prohibits County Jail from Forcing Immigration Detainees to Perform Custodial Labor by Threatening Solitary Confinement, Aug. 1, 2026. Prison Labor, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Immigration Detention, Monell Liability.
- SCOTUS Shuts Down GEO Group Bid for Immunity in Suit by Colorado ICE Detainees, July 1, 2026. GEO Group/Wackenhut, Prison Labor, Sovereign Immunity, Interlocutory Appeals, Immigration Detention.
- Colorado Ordered to Stop Tossing Prisoners in Solitary for Refusing to Work, July 1, 2026. Prison Labor, Injunctions, Good Time, Constitution, state, Administrative Detention/Segregation.
- Federal Judge Upholds Infamously Brutal Farm Labor at Angola Prison, June 1, 2026. Racial Discrimination, Prison Labor, Exposure to Heat, Cruel and Unusual Punishment, Deliberate Indifference.
- Constitutional Challenge to Louisiana Prison “Farm Line” Granted Class Certification, March 1, 2026. Prison Labor, Exposure to Heat, Injunctions (PLRA), Class Certification, Americans with Disabilities Act.

