Four years ago, 235 inmates at the Monroe prison complex worked for private businesses behind bars, making metal pans, blinds and chairs — and saving money for their life after prison.
That ended when the state Supreme Court struck down the program in 2004, saying that it interfered with private businesses operating outside state prisons.
In November 2007, voters approved a constitutional amendment to revive the program. Now the state Department of Corrections is contacting chambers of commerce to raise interest for the program called Class I Correctional Industries. That could be good news for inmates at the Monroe prison complex, the state’s largest prison complex with about 2,500 inmates.
“It means skill training and opportunities for offenders,” superintendent Scott Frakes said.
The program is expected to increase traffic of goods and people in and out of the complex, Frakes said. That could pose a challenge for prison officials as they work to ensure safety. At the same time, inmates may improve their behavior with steady jobs that would let them prepare for their life outside the prison. They need to behave well to keep their jobs.
“There are some trade-offs” about the Class I program, Frakes said.
The busier inmates are, the safer prisons tend to be, added Frakes, who has worked at state prisons for about 26 years.
The program would offer inmates pay ranging from the state’s minimum wage of $8.07 an hour to as high as $12 per hour.
That is much better pay compared with other low-paying jobs that the state now offers for offenders through other programs, said Danielle Wiles, policy and performance manager for Correctional Industries. For example, inmates make 45 cents to $1.50 per hour for making furniture, business cards and license plates.
The Class I program allows inmates to save money they will need after their release, state officials said. Money that inmates earn also could be used to pay for the cost of their incarceration and for a victim compensation fund.
“Our whole mission is to provide for job skills and work ethic,” Wiles said, adding that most of the inmates will eventually get released.
The Class I program used to employ about 400 inmates at several state prisons before the state high court’s decision. The Monroe Correctional Complex was the biggest participant with 235 inmates holding jobs, according to the Department of Corrections.
The program has improved, state officials said.
An independent board of business people, labor representatives and the public has been set up to ensure that the program won’t harm private companies. If private businesses have issues with the program, the board holds hearings on their concern and decides whether the program is unfairly competing with private businesses.
“Safeguards this time are there,” said Rep. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, who sits on the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee, which deals with prison issues.
Pearson, a Monroe native, said that the program deserves a second chance.
“Voters voted for this,” he said. “It’s not bad. We will see if this is going to be a good test run.”
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
Inmate work
Previously, inmates could earn 45 cents to $1.50 an hour making furniture or performing other limited tasks.
Under the Class I program, inmates can earn the state minimum wage, $8.07 an hour, and up to $12 an hour.
A portion of the wages earned is deducted for an inmate’s savings account; the costs of incarceration; payment for court obligations, such as a victim compensation fund; and child support, if owed.
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