Unshackling Opportunity Through Establishing Minimum Incarcerated Wage

By: Erica Liu

Many of us have worked an hourly paid minimum wage job before. Whether it’s taking orders or flipping burgers, we all have one thing in common: we like to be paid for our work. Minimum wage was established in 1938 to prevent employers from exploiting their employees; it was meant to be a protection. Over the years, the current federal minimum wage in the United States has increased to $7.25 per hour. While this may not seem like much, the federal minimum incarcerated wage is completely nonexistent. Prisoners are essentially unprotected from involuntary servitude. Burdened by the increasing costs of court fees, deductions, and even daily necessities like deodorant, shampoo, stamps, stationery, and food, prisoners barely make enough money (if even at all) to be able to afford these things. In fact, prisoners are considered lucky if they even have a wage at all. In seven states, including Florida, where the minimum state wage is scheduled to increase to $12.00 per hour, minimum incarcerated wage is a whopping 0 dollars and 0 cents. The United States needs a change that not only addresses the social and economic inequalities within our prison system, but also promotes a more just rehabilitative approach to incarceration. It all starts from establishing a minimum incarcerated wage.

By providing compensated labor to prisons, the United States can help rebuild the lives of prisoners and pave a path to redemption. One thing we often forget to account for is that the majority of prisoners eventually get released, and the current system, which perpetuates a series of poverty and recidivism, is likely to trap individuals in a cycle of incarceration. The lack of sufficient wages in prisons severely limits opportunities for personal growth and education. By relieving them of financial stress, we can offer prisoners a chance to prepare for a better future upon their release. When people have access to fair compensation, they are likely to become productive members of society.

Compensated labor not only affects the prisoners, but also those around them. We also must acknowledge the families of incarcerated individuals who may depend on their earnings. By offering a fair minimum wage, we not only assist in their rehabilitation, but also provide a means to support their families during their time in prison. This support can have a transformative effect on the well-being of these families, as it can break the cycle of generational poverty.

It is crucial to recognize the inherent dignity and worth of every human being, regardless of their background. When we confine individuals within prison walls, we must not neglect their fundamental rights. By providing fair wages, we acknowledge their labor, which can have profound implications for their successful reintegration to society.