Prison Labor and Private Sector Profits
The recent scandal in the Montblare prison has, once again, brought to the surface an issue that has long been vigorously debated across the country. “Are prisoners being treated properly and, more specifically, is it ethical to engage prisoners in work that involve various harmful undertakings, for the sake of private sector prison investors?” Regular Reps reports that there are over two dozen grand prison investors – gluttonous businessmen who are earning billions off prisoners’ labor (Dono, Regular Reps).
The question of whether or not prisoners should work has long been off the agenda. Research once again proves what we already know: that labor plays a significant positive impact on the rehabilitation of felons (Castor, Rehabilitating Felons in the New Century). Work is an important condition of living in modern capitalized society, and approximately 77% of people, all around the world, are engaged in some sort of, more or less, regular work (Fancer, Cast Aways). Therefore, one aim of society is to make sure that felons will be able to not only make up for their crimes and repent for their actions, but also to successfully reintegrate into society and play a positive, active and healthy role within their community.
Working means feeling needed. Working in a team means knowing you are a part of a bigger process; feeling that you belong in a social group; that you have your own irreplaceable part in its functioning; and it awakens the desire to contribute to the common well-being. There is little debate about whether prisoners should be made to work or not – they most certainly need to be. Another fact in support of this opinion is that prisoners are being kept, and fed, by the money of taxpayers. It would only be fair to pay back to society by learning to do useful actions (or engaging in a work that a prisoner is already proficient at), thus making their contribution to the system of labor.
Nevertheless, few people might actually realize the truth
The question of whether or not prisoners should work has long been off the agenda. Research once again proves what we already know: that labor plays a significant positive impact on the rehabilitation of felons (Castor, Rehabilitating Felons in the New Century). Work is an important condition of living in modern capitalized society, and approximately 77% of people, all around the world, are engaged in some sort of, more or less, regular work (Fancer, Cast Aways). Therefore, one aim of society is to make sure that felons will be able to not only make up for their crimes and repent for their actions, but also to successfully reintegrate into society and play a positive, active and healthy role within their community.
Working means feeling needed. Working in a team means knowing you are a part of a bigger process; feeling that you belong in a social group; that you have your own irreplaceable part in its functioning; and it awakens the desire to contribute to the common well-being. There is little debate about whether prisoners should be made to work or not – they most certainly need to be. Another fact in support of this opinion is that prisoners are being kept, and fed, by the money of taxpayers. It would only be fair to pay back to society by learning to do useful actions (or engaging in a work that a prisoner is already proficient at), thus making their contribution to the system of labor.
Nevertheless, few people might actually realize the truth
References: Dono, Ramond. Regular Reps (2011). Sidelines Publishing. Castor, Michele. Rehabilitating Felons in the New Century (2012). King’s Queen Press. Fancer, Lance. Cast Away (2013). Righteous Publishing. Richards, Anna. Heads and Their Weight (2010). Jink Press.