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Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp
So, a prisoner who has no daily living expenses gets the same wage as the guy next to him who does the same work but has to pay rent/mortgage, pay council tax and utility bills.
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We really need to consider all of the ramifications of prisoners "in the community" making less.
One major reason that prisoners get the minimum wage when working in the community is so that the availability of prisoner labor does not unfairly advantage one business versus another. If you have a business far from a prison and my competing business can use prison labor to produce goods far more cheaply than you, I've got a huge competitive advantage.
Also, if an employer can pay less than the minimum wage to prisoners, why would he hire a law-abiding person and pay them minimum wage? That "guy next to him" will not even get the job if prisoner labor can do the work more cheaply. Requiring the employer to pay the minimum wage to prisoners actually helps protect the living of that law-abiding person! How would you feel if you lost your living only because your employer can pay the prisoner less than what the law requires he pay to you?
Quote:
Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp
He can save all his earnings whilst the co-worker may be struggling to make ends meet. Maybe that co-worker would get to thinking twice about whether crime pays or not. I still think they should be deducted for their keep and the money put into some victim compensation fund - maybe less for the taxpayer to have to contribute to then.
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I'm sure that most of us have given thought over the years as to whether crime pays. Generally, crime does pay, sorry to say. However, when most of us analyze the possible benefits of a life in crime and compare them with the risk of prison, we don't choose crime.
If you deduct the cost of a prisoner's keep, then you will take all they earn - and more. This leaves them with no reason to work. As engaging in regular, productive work is generally considered to be one of the major steps to preventing recidivism, there is a real need to leave the incentive to work in place. For those who are working in the community, perhaps some reasonable percentage could be deducted.