I Worked in Federal Prison Sweatshops for 23 Cents an Hour

The Intercept_, September 4, 2023: I Worked in Federal Prison Sweatshops for 23 Cents an Hour

“Prison labor is a staple of the American economy. Whether it’s fish farms or electronics recycling, woodworking or vehicle remanufacturing, our nation’s supply chain is bolstered by a hidden labor force of overworked and underpaid incarcerated people. I would know — I was one of them.

“Throughout my 13 years of incarceration, I held a prison job whenever possible. From the kitchen of the city jail in Bristol, Virginia, to the mess halls of federal prisons in West Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, I worked. At first, I didn’t think of myself as exploited. As far as I was concerned, I was just doing my job and my time the best way I knew how.

“It wasn’t until I worked at the UNICOR factories in Butner, North Carolina, and Allenwood, Pennsylvania, where I was housed for a combined five years, that I made the connection between capitalism and captivity. Other prison jobs I had, such as kitchen worker or janitor, simply facilitated the operation of the institution. But once I clocked in at UNICOR, I became more than a prison worker: I was an employee, ushered into the world of big business. I tracked my hours, signed documents for vacation days, and strove to meet the quarterly and annual revenue targets displayed prominently on a digital bulletin board. I thought these experiences would one day help me find a good job on the outside. I was wrong.”

Additional reading:

Bloomberg Law, November 16, 2022: UNICOR to Pay $1 Million to Clean Up Electronic Recycling Waste

Gizmodo, November 9, 2022: ICE Loves to Buy Furniture Made With Prison Labor, Documents Show

The Marshall Project, April 10, 2020: Federal Prison Factories Kept Running as Coronavirus Spread

The Intercept_, April 17, 2015: Prison Labor Company Features Promo Video Touting “Best-Kept Secret in Outsourcing”