The Prison Labor System In The Age Of COVID-19

The ideology behind the prison labor system is to cheapen labor to the fullest extent possible following the abolition of slavery. The War on Drugs agenda led to racialized mass incarceration, which expedited the process of incarcerating people, many for the purpose of working. The prison labor system is rooted in neoliberalism and social conflict theory as the purpose of correctional institutions has shifted from rehabilitation to profit-bearing opportunities. At its core, the study analyzes two figures from the Prison Policy Initiative which measures state prison labor wage averages by state and industry, and then the other figure details annual prison commissary expenses that inmates pay consistently across several states. The in-depth analysis of secondary sources helped identify themes of lack of awareness for the incarcerated in every aspect ranging from wages paid to reentry.The present study is significant and builds upon existing literature by comparing and contrasting prison labor by state, and also connecting it to the larger picture of prison labor on a federal level. The exploitation of the prison labor system is exceptionally aggravated by the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Author

• Mirza, Amber Zubeida

Language

• en

Keyword

• correctional
• COVID-19
• labor
• prison
• public health

Date created

• 2022

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Sociology

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• Gatewood, Britany
• Bustamante, Carlos

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/tq57nr94v