Full Version: Does It Really Effect You?
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#1]
9 Apr 2007
To: ALL
I know how much you embrace the concept of the prison system being direct competition for your customers, especially since you are in a state that has a very large Federal penitentiary. (devil) I am sure others share the same sentiment.
While doing some research I ran across this excerpt. It looks like if anything, the practice of prison engraving in your state is going to expand rather than retract. It seems to be a nice revenue center.
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The National Correctional Industries Association reported that inmates working in Kansas Correctional Industries' Prison Industry Enhancement (PIE) certified private prison industries earned more in gross wages ($1,065,229) than inmates in any other program in the nation. The Kansas program was followed by South Carolina ($849,415), Washington ($842,442), Indiana ($645,451) and Minnesota ($620,337).
(The company) Impact Design began operating a screen-printed and embroidered clothing operation at Lansing Correctional Facility in 1995 and currently employs more than 200 inmates. In February, Impact Design agreed to lease 5,300 square feet of workspace within LCF's maximum-security compound. This will enable Impact to relocate its engraving operation from a building within LCF's industrial yard and expand both their engraving and screen-printing operations. An immediate increase of ten private industry jobs is anticipated.
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In Iowa they even have a website promoting the prison services, along with a nice shopping cart for customer convenience. Take a look at what industry is first on the list. LINK
EDITED: 9 Apr 2007 by DATAKES
From: RALLYGUY (RALLYGUY1) [#2]
9 Apr 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#1] 9 Apr 2007
Part of it irks me because it's pretty hard to compete with a "captive" workforce, but on the other hand. I guess the tax relief should be considered a good thing... no?
I wish we could get the prisoners to do the stuff that some parties think that we "need" the illegal aliens to do instead. I have always felt that there should be more community service required in non violent prisoners sentences.......find ways to help your fellow man, instead of growing the prison systems, and overcrowding the jails. ;)
I do also believe that there has to be something on the inside of a prison that keeps more violent prisoners involved in productive activities. Unfortunately these "money making" activities can influence the marketplace at times.
From: John (ICTJOHN) [#3]
9 Apr 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#1] 9 Apr 2007
I know, I know! >.< and just think, all of our federal taxes go to support these projects that let a FEW private companies save BIG time on their salaries!
I have not heard any rumblings lately of this, it seems like maybe 5 years ago, ARA had faxed out info on this program.
My Army base here has to get bids on the larger projects and compare them to the Leavenworth costs and buy from them as much as possible. 8-O
I had also heard about the prison that made the office furniture, but didn't know where it was...........
thanks for the good news..... NOT!
:O)
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#4]
9 Apr 2007
To: John (ICTJOHN) [#3] 9 Apr 2007
John,
If it makes you feel better, that report was from a few years back.
From: John (ICTJOHN) [#5]
9 Apr 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#4] 9 Apr 2007
David,
I think you have used Century Plastics in the past that is based here in Wichita, They use a couple of state prisons for similar programs.
:/
~
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#6]
9 Apr 2007
To: RALLYGUY (RALLYGUY1) [#2] 9 Apr 2007
Of ALL people, YOU should know better.
There is no such thing as tax relief. All this does is give the government more money to spend.
If memory serves, the Texas system was the last self-supporting prison system in the US. They had farms to raise all their food on, and (I think) a textile mill for clothing. I guess making prisoners work was unconstitutional.
What would really hack me off about this kind of deal is that MY tax dollars were spent to start this "business". No one had to go out and secure credit, mortgage their house, or make ANY other sacrifices in order to buy equipment! WE PAID FOR ALL OF IT!!!!
To make matters even worse, if it loses money, WE GET TO SUBSIDIZE IT!!!
Why do the "employees" care if it goes "out of business"? They don't lose their homes, cars, etc. There's little there to drive them to success. It sounds to me like a politician is trying to win over some constituents by saying, "Look at what I've done....rehabilitated criminals, and provided you with $XXX in tax relief. Vote for me!"
A good thing? I think not!
From: RALLYGUY (RALLYGUY1) [#7]
9 Apr 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#6] 9 Apr 2007
From: Doug (JDOUG5170) [#8]
9 Apr 2007
To: RALLYGUY (RALLYGUY1) [#7] 9 Apr 2007
In Oregon, we have one prison located south of Portland that manufactures office furniture for resale and another one east that manufactures a line of blue jeans marketed under the "Prison Blues" label.
The great part is the corporation "The Array Corporation" that is Prison Blues is part of a major corporation located here in Portland. Joint venture with a retail oriented corporation and the prison system just feels wrong. Wish I could get labor that cheap!
Doug
From: UncleSteve [#9]
9 Apr 2007
To: Doug (JDOUG5170) [#8] 10 Apr 2007
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#10]
9 Apr 2007
To: UncleSteve [#9] 10 Apr 2007
From: sprinter [#11]
9 Apr 2007
To: ALL
I think California leads the nation when it comes to state prisons for manufacturing products. They manufacture office furniture, metal BBQ's, printing and has a HUGE engraving operation for name plates etc. The state has mandated that the prison produced products shall be purchased over going outside to other manufactures for state requirements.
I wonder if this is part of the game plan so the only places we can buy anything is from Wal-Mart or the prison system.
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#12]
9 Apr 2007
To: ALL
I'll bet the finished products still cost the same as going to any other shop/store.
And taxes are still going up.
From: RALLYGUY (RALLYGUY1) [#13]
9 Apr 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#12] 10 Apr 2007
Our government???? with the $250 toilet seats? Market price????...I highly doubt it.................
I figure any money that the prison's make should automatically go to tax relief from the prison system.........
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#14]
10 Apr 2007
To: RALLYGUY (RALLYGUY1) [#13] 10 Apr 2007
If the vocational training classes, (that were once included in the school system curriculum) hadn't been shut down, there would be fewer prisons and probably more domestic manufacturing jobs.
It's a sore point with me.
From: RALLYGUY (RALLYGUY1) [#15]
10 Apr 2007
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#14] 10 Apr 2007
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#16]
10 Apr 2007
To: RALLYGUY (RALLYGUY1) [#15] 10 Apr 2007
I think some states still embrace the benefits of training young people to work in jobs, other than white collar, though California, in all its wisdom, is just now realizing that bringing vocational training back to the schools is a good idea.
Better late than never, but there's been a lot of wasted time and lives in the interim.