ing rocks and picking up trash along highways. If they are disobedient they are handcuffed to a post with their arms raised in the air. (Brownstein 179) A prisoner named Ron Humphey works an eight-hour day as a computer-systems manager and then works another four hours after dinner. (Let the Prisoners Work 14) This is much better than sitting around doing nothing to him. When most prisoners work they feel at least some sense of worth, which raises their spirit. For a long time prisoners have worked, but most of their labor was for the government of nonprofit agencies. This was done to prevent competition between inmates and the American public. That is why prisoners are known for producing license plates. Currently there are enough people making license plates so other jobs are needed. Some major companies are involved in the one-hundred plus companies that have thousands of inmate employees in twenty-nine states. (Cohen 76) The jobs that prisoners now do varies greatly. Inmates in South Carolina make lingerie for Victorias Secret and graduation gowns for Jostens. Prisoners also wrap software for Microsoft and make electronic circuit boards for IBM. (Cohen 76) Research has shown that the imprisonment rates vary from state to state and among the many different countries. This causes people to wonder what is being done different. (Selke 4) Nobody can seem to figure out what is best for our prison system. There is no clear answer to whether or not the United States should have convict labor. There are several reasons that suggest we should have convict labor including: the good emotional effect working has on inmates, the money taxpayers save because inmates can pay for their stay, and the easier ability for inmates to find jobs after prison. There are also many reasons to not have convict labor like: the chance that convict labor will take jobs from average citizens, convict labor may actually cost more, and the corruption and prejudice i...
