Minimum wage in Prison?!

WillowTheWhisp · 26-02-2007, 08:42

An item on the radio this morning was discussing whether prisoners who work should be allowed to keep all the money they earn or if a proportion should go into a fund to compensate victims of crime

Like the interviewer I naïvely thought that they earned a pittance which could just be spent on a few trivialities in prison, but no - it appears that they earn 'at least' the minimum wage! Now surely that makes them better off than people not in prison who also earn very low wages and yet have to pay rent, gas, electricity, council tax, water rates and buy their own food and clothing?

Isn't there something a bit not right there?

tadah · 26-02-2007, 08:47

The only experenice i have on this is in military prison and we got 22p a day

SPUGGIE J · 26-02-2007, 09:09

Thats why jail is so popular these days. I agree the money they earn should be taxed for the sake of the victims. If they are being paid a minimum then take of board and lodgings as well.

tadah · 26-02-2007, 09:11

No ther should not be given anything. They should be given the worst cheapest stuff ever to keep costs down. They dont like it? Dont break the law then.

SPUGGIE J · 26-02-2007, 09:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadah

No ther should not be given anything. They should be given the worst cheapest stuff ever to keep costs down. They dont like it? Dont break the law then.

mr Magic did you get out of the wrong side of bed this morning? Even I wouldnt have them using cheap soap and deoderant as that would be bad for the atmosphere.

tadah · 26-02-2007, 09:22

LOL no im in a very good mood today as ive just recieve my tax rebate. Not a bad start to a monday morning to get the tax man saying hey carl have £417

entwisi · 26-02-2007, 09:32

err, shouldn't that read "Hey Carl, heres that £417 that we've overcharged you that you have lost interest/investment opportunity on"

As for prisoners... they should earn minimum wage for their work and all the money given/shared between the victims of their crimes for the whole period of their detention.

Prison life should be hard, it should be uncomfortable, it should itself be the deterrent to re-offending.

tadah · 26-02-2007, 09:34

Yeah thats true ian but its still a nice suprise when you didnt know anything about it lol.

WillowTheWhisp · 26-02-2007, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi

As for prisoners... they should earn minimum wage for their work and all the money given/shared between the victims of their crimes for the whole period of their detention.

Prison life should be hard, it should be uncomfortable, it should itself be the deterrent to re-offending.

I totally agree with both of those points. No doubt there'll be people saying that it infringes on their human rights though.

SPUGGIE J · 26-02-2007, 09:40

They are in prison so they should forfiet their rights.

tadah · 26-02-2007, 09:41

Prison is mean to put them off breaking the law right so why give them anything better than the basic cheapest stuff.

grego · 26-02-2007, 09:41

Human rights, they shouldn't have any, the fact that they earn minimum wage is an insult to law abiding citizens, they should work for pence and the rest is for their keep at least then the tax payers wouldn't be footing the bill.

jedimaster · 26-02-2007, 09:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi

Prison life should be hard, it should be uncomfortable, it should itself be the deterrent to re-offending.

which is what i've been saying all along!
for fear of severe retribution yet again i still say prisoners get too cushy a life and prison offers no reasons to 'go straight'

well why should they when they get free bed and board, no bills , computers,sky tv,games consoles etc.and a wage to boot!

WillowTheWhisp · 26-02-2007, 09:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadah

Prison is mean to put them off breaking the law right so why give them anything better than the basic cheapest stuff.

This isn't about any 'stuff' - whether they work or not the prisoners will have the same 'stuff' - same food, same TV, same recreational facilities, same chance of open university courses, which is a different subject; although I do agree with you that they shouldn't get all these things. Then you get people coming along who say that prison isn't a holiday camp and that it's a really hard life for them in there. It's a bloomin harder life for a lot of people out here! Oh and thank you for the silly karma deduction which makes no more sense than your response to this topic did

Quote:

Originally Posted by grego

Human rights, they shouldn't have any, the fact that they earn minimum wage is an insult to law abiding citizens, they should work for pence and the rest is for their keep at least then the tax payers wouldn't be footing the bill.

I agree that they should forfeit any rights when they are convicted of a crime - I mean convicted criminals not those on remand who may be proven innocent. I was gobsmacked to find that they earn at least the minimum wage. At least? What does that mean some of them may be earning then? And no bills to pay!!! So they are a darned site better off in prison, full pay and nothing to spend it on. It's an insult to the victims of their crimes.

grego · 26-02-2007, 10:00

Thats the problem these days prison is not a deterent, infact its a cushy life for some, and its costing the tax payers a fortune.