Comments on: Can prison life be greener? The Sustainable Prisons Project thinks so…

By: Isabella Jacoby

Isabella Jacoby — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:26:24 +0000

The problem with prison work and “work training” is that they’re permitted to earn as little as $0.20 an hour, and most max out around $1.45 an hour. They’re also charged exorbitant prices, like $5 for a bar of soap, and often not permitted to opt out of working for such little pay. This “green collar” work is a good idea, but unless it’s coupled with a pay increase, it just means one more industry that can be “internally outsourced” to prisons, like many manufacturing jobs and call centers are. Green jobs and increased sustainability are good, but they’re also one of the few growth areas in the country. If prisoners start taking over those jobs, many of them will become unavailable to non-inmates, meaning that not only will average people be out of a job, but the inmates themselves will be unable to use the training they get once they get out of prison.

By: heather

heather — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:54:27 +0000

teaching even the prisoners that going green is good.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:10:20 +0000

This seems fair to me. I’d say why not make the prison systems more self sufficient and energy independent. There has to be a way for the prison system to become more of a producer rather than a consumer.
This is a good start.

By: ninjastik

ninjastik — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:54:59 +0000

I think it sounds fine, better than breaking rocks into pebbles or pressing license plates or whatever it is they do these days. Although I’m fairly certain someone somewhere would have a problem with it somehow…

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:53:49 +0000

Thank you for giving a second chance for prisoners and a second chance to save the earth