What we want
The labor of incarcerated individuals should be compensated at no less than the prevailing minimum wage.
Reasons for Reform
In Georgia, incarcerated individuals are not guaranteed any compensation, so the minimum wage for Georgians working behind bars is zero.
In the recent national prison strike organized by Jailhouse Lawyers Speak that began on August 21, one of the requests is for a minimum wage so that prison labor is not exploited at the expense of their families. Incarcerated individuals could continue to support their family while behind bars and prevent further family destabilization, if they were paid fairly.
Work opportunities for incarcerated individuals should not be taken away, as it provides a healthy use of time and energy. However, when the labor goes unpaid like in Georgia or barely paid as it is in other states, it creates an opportunity for abuse and exploitation of prison labor.
These distorted wages can also impact local workers depending upon their industry as it devalues the value of their labor as well.