Inner Revolutionary Radio

First a few facts. More than 2.3 million Americans are in prison and over 50% in federal lock-up are there for drug offenses. Of the 9% of prisoners who are women, 75% have histories of severe physical abuse by partners and 82% suffered serious physical or sexual abuse as girls. They are disproportionately black. Some prisoners work, especially in federal penitentiaries, and they can be forced to work for minimum or no compensation, as little as 23 cents/hour. For the last few years, some people are trying to create a different model for prison labor, developing a for-profit manufacturing sector in prison that is supposed to be a win/win for companies and inmates. Tim Grant runs one such factory in an Arkansas maximum security women’s prison. He says he is giving prisoners decent wages, money to send home, skills to use outside and a sense of value. Let’s get the inside story on this new form of prison labor. Does it help prisoners, is it taking our jobs or is it a new chain gang?