WHY WORK WHILE INCARCERATED? INMATE PERCEPTIONS ON PRISON INDUSTRIES EMPLOYMENT Kerry M. Richmond, PhD Department of Criminal Justice-Criminology Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA National Correctional Industries Association National Training Conference Workshop Pittsburgh, PA April 18, 2016
Statement of Problem Despite the fact that two-thirds of inmates report being employed prior to incarceration, obtaining employment is challenging upon release due to: Low educational attainment Sporadic work histories Criminal record Types of employment and ability to sustain employment is limited due to: Attitudes and motivation Lack of social capital Result: High rates of recidivism within three years of release
Incarceration Trends in the US Source: The Sentencing Project
Value of Work Programs Educational and employment opportunities offered to individuals while incarcerated can encourage prosocial behavior by: Teaching vocational skills Providing real work experience Encouraging regular interaction with conventional others Creating structure and routine
Overview of Prison Industries Programs Operations in 31% of US correctional facilities (Stephan, 2008) Roots are in the early penitentiary model Trains inmates in a specific vocation and offers real work experience Types: Manufacture office furniture Operate call centers Sew military and inmate uniforms Manufacture license plates Goals: Reduce inmate misconduct Increase likelihood of employment Decrease recidivism
Effectiveness of Prison Industries Programs Limited research on effectiveness Concern over selection bias Research evidence: Employment in prison industries reduces likelihood of institutional misconduct (Maguire, 1996) Male inmates who participate in prison industries are less likely to recidivate (Saylor and Gaes, 1997; Bouffard et al., 2000; Wilson et al., 2000) No evidence of similar effect for women (Richmond, 2012) Little understanding of specific aspects of program Variation in training and skills obtained Gender-specific experiences
PA Correctional Industries Mission To maximize inmate employment while providing valuable vocational training and work experience To remain self-sufficient Operates in 19 facilities and employs ~1,500 inmate workers Industries: Commissary distribution Laundry Garments Furniture manufacturing Hourly wage: $0.19 to $0.42 (plus up to $0.70 in production bonuses) Inmates typically are within 2-6 years of release (only 10% can be lifers)
Current Study Selected four prison industries operations Specialized factories Furniture upholstery and woodworking factory (male) Optical services lab (female) Non-specialized factories Garment factory (male and female) Conducted interviews with 70 inmates (38 female, 32 male) Voluntary and uncompensated Open-ended, 30-60 minutes Explored perceptions, motivations, experiences, strengths and weaknesses
Overall Perceptions Improves one s perception of self Feel as though not in prison anymore Instills self-confidence Sense of accomplishment [The CI staff] show you what you are doing is wrong. They don t give up on you. They value your opinion.
Overall Perceptions Incentive to stay out of trouble Over time, the job, and the routine and social benefits (not just the higher wage) was most meaningful Takes one out of the prison environment and into a place where everyone is similarly motivated Sense of responsibility Now I know how to be less confrontational. I walk away from things more. It has changed my attitude because now I have a goal that I am working towards. A lot of guys don t have the mindset to follow through on the outside. If you don t use your mind while you are in prison, you can become institutionalized. You don t think long-term, you don t think outside of the prison. You end up taking the prison with you when you leave.
Overall Perceptions Enhances interpersonal skills Desire to remain employed enables inmates to work through issues and overcome challenges they may not have done otherwise Learn how to work with people from diverse backgrounds and varying personalities Become like a family Move away from criminal mentality You begin to gel with the other guys it is a brotherhood. Because you are working in such close proximity with everyone for so many hours, you get to know each other and care about each other. Outside of CI, it is every man for himself. Here all of us are working together to make a product.
Overall Perceptions Additional education and training More preparation for technologically advanced workplace Desire to learn computer skills Ability to further education
Industry Specific Themes Sense of pride about work and the work of others Optical services lab offers hook for change (Giordano et al., 2002) Skills and certification may balance out stigma due to criminal record McDonald s doesn t help pay the rent and support your children.
Perceptions by Gender Male Perspective Desire for independence Grown men don t want to call home asking for help. Ability to send money home Female Perspective Need for money not as pressing Work must have a purpose Increase self-confidence Increase ability to become self-sufficient Addressing other issues, such as substance abuse, are a priority
Lessons Learned Benefits of prison industries employment Provides structure and purpose Develop sense of self-worth Form positive, pro-social bonds Each industries program is unique Lack of connection to employment opportunities on the outside
Recommendations Provide financial planning and job search assistance Use industry contacts upon release as references Focus on motivation, not just skills and employment Change perception of prison industries can offer a gateway to the outside world Increase inmate s access to education Address gender-specific needs
WHY WORK WHILE INCARCERATED? INMATE PERCEPTIONS ON PRISON INDUSTRIES EMPLOYMENT Kerry M. Richmond, PhD Associate Professor and Chair Department of Criminal Justice-Criminology Lycoming College 700 College Place Williamsport, PA 17701 (570) 321-4202 richmond@lycoming.edu
Interview Questions Why did you choose to work in correctional industries? Is this your first job through correctional industries? If not, where else have you worked? What type of work were you involved in? How long have you been working in this specific correctional industries program? What type of work do you do? Were you employed prior to entering prison? If so, what kind of work did you do? Do you feel that you have gained any skills through your employment in this program? Explain. Do you feel that any of these skills will help you upon release from prison? How so? What do you like the most about working in correctional industries? What do you like the least? In what way has this program shaped your behavior while you have been incarcerated? Are you planning on obtaining employment upon release from prison? Doing what? In what way do you think your criminal record will impact your ability to obtain employment upon release? How are you planning on dealing with this challenge? What other challenges do you think you will face in obtaining employment upon release from prison? Is there anything you think the program can do to assist inmates in the area of employment?