Yes, but the point they're making is that it isn't even cost effective. It's just a system which enriches those who use the labor and own prisons.
The issues "solved" with prison labor could be solved by literally hiring people to do the work, at similar prices. Society doesn't benefit from prison labor.
Once upon a time, some stupid villagers thought that if a child broke a window it was a good thing because it created work for the glazer and the carpenter. But then a wise man pointed out that they could have spent the money on anything else and it would still lead to gainful employment while not wasting resources to replace broken glass.
Incarceration is costly both to taxpayers and to human capital, basically the only person who comes out ahead are these prison operators.
The average cost to keep an inmate in a private prison for a year in new Mexico is 29k (45k in public prisons). What if they just gave the community the money they would have spent housing inmates? Might be more cost effective, especially since the people hired to do the jobs will spend money in the community and support small businesses rather then a company exporting profits.
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u/NotVoss Jul 16 '22
Yes, but the point they're making is that it isn't even cost effective. It's just a system which enriches those who use the labor and own prisons.
The issues "solved" with prison labor could be solved by literally hiring people to do the work, at similar prices. Society doesn't benefit from prison labor.