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Thousands of hard working Americans have lost their jobs to narcotic dealers, armed robbers, pedophiles, and rapists because minimum wage does not apply to inmates because inmate labor is very inexpensive.  It is very difficult for a private company to compete against a prison that produces the same goods, especially if the prison pays an hourly wage to inmates of 23 cents (Slaughter par 10).  The wage gap creates an unfair advantage for the private sector to directly compete.  Also, opponents of prison labor argue that it is inhumane to make convicts to work at very low wages.  Some even believe it violates the Thirteenth Amendment since some convict labor is involuntary work.  On the other hand, supporters of prison labor believe it benefits convicts, because they gain marketable skills to apply once they are released.  Also, prisoners are believed to be an untapped resource that should be utilized because convict labor can slow the flow of outsourcing overseas.  Furthermore, convicts are less likely to be repeat offenders if employed during their incarceration.

Opponents of prison labor believe most prison jobs are not marketable skills that can be applied once released.  They fear inmates learn skills such as sewing blue jeans and once released they will not find a job because sewing blue jeans is mostly done overseas (Slaughter par 19).  A convict leaving prison with high hopes not finding a job once released may lead to him being a repeat offender and that would be counter productive to what correctional facilities are for.  Although many correctional facilities have private influence such as Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises (PRIDE), a private nonprofit corporation that manages correctional industries inside Florida's state prison system, that will develop prisoner’s skills (Harrell par 1).  Unlike the traditional idea of prison labor, when fully-trained PRIDE inmate workers leave prison, they carry with them credentials and job skills that meet the requirements of today's businesses.  Some argue since they are ex-convicts it will still be a hard uphill battle to find a job.  Although attaining useable job skills will certainly give them a helping hand finding a job once released.  Ex-convicts need all the help they can get.  As the great free society that we are, we should put forth all we can for the less fortunate individuals who made mistakes in the past.    

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PRIDE is relatively successful, but some state programs are even better such as a two-semester program that has been offered for the past 10 years through the Central Carolina Community College.  Inmates apply what they learn from the electronic repair program and refurbish old computers from North Carolina state surplus.  They then sell them to local schools for $20.  Some say this competes with private business but if the inmates did not do this for the school, the school would not be able to afford much more than the $20 that a private business would require.  (Harry par 1-3)  If the inmates ...

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