Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

I'm not saying they shouldn't keep any of the money - but why should they keep it all and get free board and lodgings?


I'm not planning on breaking the law.


Ah but the ones who work for companies outside of the prison do get the minimum wage at least - and yet they have no bills to pay so they are financially better off than their innocent workmates which just makes no sense.

There is a the suggestion being put forth that they should only keep a part of the wage and the rest should go into some sort of victim compensation fund. That seems only fair to me when they don't have any living expenses.

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

But there are a number of folks here who are suggesting that the prisoners should keep none.


Nor am I. I know that I will not find "cushy" conditions in prison. Quite the opposite, in fact.

BUT - If conditions in prision, as some have claimed, are so much better on the inside, it would be irrational not to seek the better conditions. So, why are you not trying to take advantage? Why aren't most people?

After all, there are any number of ways to break the law where, in essence, all you do is inconvenience someone else. For example, make a habit of stealing cars (without damaging them, of course) and drive them to a place where they are certain to be ticketed or towed, leaving some obvious clues in the vehicle as to who should get credit for this dastardly act. You could even leave a note, so that the owner would know where to find the vehicle.

Why aren't most people taking advantage of the better "cushy" conditions that some claim they would find in jail? Perhaps those "some" who make such claims aren't truly convinced that they are presenting an accurate picture?

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

Did a bit of homework. Appears that only those prisoners who are working in the community are entitled to the minumum wage. See this link (2005 info):
http://www.ilpa.org.uk/briefings/IAN2005BriefNC2Rep.doc
also
http://pso.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/PS...soners_pay.doc

There is an emphasis on purposeful activity, which is certainly something I would support. Minimum pay for in-prision work is GBP 4/week. Not a lot!

Frankly, I believe that any restitution to victims should be set by the judge at sentencing or, alternatively, through civil proceedings.


In any case, enjoy the links. Much better to work with the facts at hand!

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

Okay, late to this discussion but felt I'd give my opinion anyway. Id like the prisoners to take more responsibility for the costs they incur. Why not charge them for their "basic" needs being met? I'd MAYBE even go so far as to charge relatives for imprisonment costs.

This all being a possible even greater deterrent. However, I also realize many of these people wouldn't give a hoot about their mums, dads, spouses, grown children, having to pay.

This type of thing may work for younger, non-violent criminals. More importantly, it may help/make/force these negleckful parents, who let their kids run rampant, vandalising, fighting, stealing, etc., to have more reason to keep the kids disciplined.

I'm just trying to think a bit outside the box here. Also trying to think of ways to stifle all those little hoodlum dregs of society!

Brian

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

I agree that it just does not seem right that a person working from an open prison goes "home" at the end of the day to live free of charge without having to pay for board and lodgings.

There is also the scenario were a convicted criminal may get a suspended or deferred prison sentence... in thoery they have recieved a prison sentence..would anyone say they should not get the minimum wage while still working?
This topic is not as clear cut as to simply say a percentage of wages earned should be taken... seems it would take a great deal of looking into the legal aspects, and were any deductions made, to whom or were the money taken would go.

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

Strange! I always thought that a suspended sentence meant they were hanged. :confused: :p

Sorry! I’ll go an kneel on some dried peas in a corner and mutter to myself, “Don’t be facetious.”

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

To have milk and sugar to put on their gruel.:D

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

Of course Willow.... I was meaning to say that to bring in any new laws to make deductions from wages of offenders would I expect be a legal minefield...if the law says prisoners can "out work" in the private sector then they have the same rights as any other employee whether we like it or not.

Maybe a way round this would be to for the judge to impose a "fine" at the same time as a custodial sentance is given, such a fine could be enforced if the prisoner earns a certian amount of money when working outside prison... but then again I suppose this would deter some prisoners from taking up outside employment.

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

Prisons could have work indoors.

A laundry to launder hospital linens perhaps?

Sorting recyclable stuff from the throw away stuff?

A market garden to grow the prison’s own vegetables maybe?

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

Why should the relatives pay? Suddenly, we're choosing to punish the innoncent?

I know what my response would be - if society wants to lock them up, then society must pay for it. I'll pay my share, as part of my taxes, but that's an end to it. To ensure an equitable justice system, society needs to balance the cost of incarceration versus the cost of not imprisoning so many folks. Frankly, if it did not cost the public to run prisons, it could lead to any number of interesting abuses. For instance, under your proposal, wouldn't relatives be financially far better off helping a criminal hide out or escape?

Frankly, running a justice system, including prisons, is part of the cost of running a civilized society. If we don't pay the costs of maintaining civilization, we have no right to expect it to continue for long. From my point of view, the benefits far outweigh the costs I pay.

Re: Minimum wage in Prison?!
 

Makes sense jambutty... the old sewing mailbags type of work is still done in some prisons.. and some work along the lines of what you propose is done.
It may sound strange but in most prisons the "unemployment rate" if you can call it that, is up in the 80% 's.... having a "job" on the inside of prison is actually highly valued by most prisoners... having work cleaning/cooking or in the workshop gets a prisoner out of the cells and maybe £2-£4 a week on top of an allowance of around £6 per week that all prisoners get.