prison work to help close the gap?

I keep hearing in the news that many states are letting people out of jail early in order to close massive budget deficits. Usually its an interview of an inmate excited to be out followed by a disgruntled middle age woman saying she doesn't feel safe in her community anymore. Then it cuts to the reporter explaining the state's fiscal shortfall and the story ends with a very concerned looking politician assuring the public that they are doing all they can to get the state's financial house in order.

Texas spent about $3 billion in 2009 on its criminal-justice system, which included about $42 per day to house the 172,000 prisoners in state custody (according to a report in the AZ Central)

Let me first say that if someone can spend more of their life out of prison I think that is a good thing. I just think maybe we should find a way to help offset that $42 a day. Why not give those who are incarcerated the opportunity to work? I'm going to just throw out a "what if" type example.

You give inmates the option to work. You "pay" them a set amount for their work. You sell the products they make to offset some of their prison costs. You give them the ability to use some of their "wages."

Here are what I see as the benefits. First, the obvious, you can reduce the effective cost for housing an inmate. If you reduce the cost to $26 per day you just saved the state a billion dollars a year. Second, you give the inmates the ability to earn some money. Most people in prison have bills to pay; fines from the wrong-doing, medical bills, credit cards, student loans, child support...... I'm not saying you have to pay them a lot, but if they made $20 bucks a day after their "rent" payment that could add up. Third, if they don't have bills to pay then let them either save that money for when they come out or let them spend it at the prison shop. Fourth, if they make things that usually get made in other countries in a small way it would help the trade deficit. Lastly, it gives the inmates work experience, hopefully, skills they can use when they get out.

There would have to be some guidelines set in place. We wouldn't want the state to actually make money off them. We wouldn't want corrupt warden's going shawshank and taking advantage of cheap labor. So it would cause some work upfront. But it's a thought.

With a 2010 budget shortfall nearing 11 billion for the state of Texas, everything should be on the table. Or we could all just pay more taxes....... Let me know what you think.

Thanks for the read.