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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:
- 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
- Colorado Supreme Court Announces Defendant Must Be Competent Before Undergoing Mental-Condition Examination Under § 16-8-107(3)(b), April 1, 2026
- California Court of Appeal Announces Plea Agreements Cannot Bar § 1172.1 Resentencing, Holds Merit-Based Denial of Petition Is Appealable, April 1, 2026
- Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies That Failure to Object to Ineligible Juror Does Not Constitute Waiver Unless Party Knew or Could Have Discovered Ineligibility Through Ordinary Diligence, April 1, 2026
- Washington State Guard’s Conviction Affirmed in Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound Scheme, March 1, 2026
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Holds Motion Judge Abused Discretion by Denying Evidentiary Hearing on IAC Claim Where Plea Counsel’s Affidavit Was Not Inherently Inconsistent With Colloquy Statements Regarding Immigration Advice, March 1, 2026
- Washington Supreme Court Clarifies Double Jeopardy Analysis for Multiple Assault Convictions, Holding That Assaultive Acts Occurring Over Short Time Period in Same Location Without Intervening Events Constitute Single Course of Conduct, March 1, 2026
- New Jersey Supreme Court Reverses Drug Convictions Under Cumulative Error Doctrine, Holding Combined Effect of Improper References to Television Series, Gun Violence, and Search Warrants Deprived Defendant of Fair Trial, March 1, 2026
- New York Court of Appeals Announces Coercive Police Tactics Compelling Suspect to Exit Home Constitute “Constructive Entry” Violating Payton, Holds Attenuation Analysis Applies to Third-Party Consent, March 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- 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.
- Incarcerated Women Featured in True Crime Media Face Flood of Sexual Harassment, March 1, 2026. Sexual Harassment, Prison Labor, Hygiene Supplies, Mail, TV/Movies.
- Missouri Prisoners Forced to Shovel Snow in Subzero Temperatures, Feb. 1, 2026. Retaliatory Segregation, Prison Labor, Work Conditions/Safety, Exposure to Cold, Administrative Detention/Segregation.
- Labor Coalition in Minnesota Demands Disney Contractor Pay Prisoners Minimum Wage, Jan. 1, 2026. Prison Industries, Prison Labor, Advocacy, Contractor Liability, jobs.
- Wisconsin DOC Is Not Tracking Work Release Data, Jan. 1, 2026. Work Release, Prison Labor, Statistics/Trends, Fair Labor Standards Act.
- How I Learned to Transcribe Braille in Prison, Jan. 1, 2026. Prison Labor, Education, Rehabilitation/Recidivism, jobs.
- Hyundai and Kia Sued in California for Use of Prison Labor in Southern States, Dec. 1, 2025. Work Release, Prison Labor, Work Conditions/Safety, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- Federal Government, CoreCivic Slow-Walk Class-Action Challenges to Forced Labor of ICE Detainees, Nov. 1, 2025. Corrections Corporation of America/CoreCivic, Prison Labor, Class Certification, Class Notice, Sovereign Immunity, Immigration Detention.
- California Approves Higher Wage for Prisoner Firefighters (But Still Underpays), Nov. 1, 2025. Work Release, Prison Labor, Injury -- Misc., Rehabilitation/Recidivism, Good Time.
- Hyundai Parts Supplier Stops Using Prison Slave Labor in Alabama, July 15, 2025. Work Release, Prison Labor, Work Conditions/Safety, Workers' Compensation.

