STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Wednesday, 27 June 2012

[Demeter]

10. BUT NEVER FEAR: Factory prisons will allow inmates to support families on the outside (UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9355818/Factory-prisons-will-allow-inmates-to-support-families-on-the-outside.html

New factory jails are to be built that allow prisoners to earn money for their families and to save up a nest egg for their release, it has been revealed. The development is an extension to existing schemes in which inmates work but any money earned goes to their victims of crime. It is thought the "routine and discipline" of employment could cut reoffending rates and reduce the burden on the state of looking after prisoners and their loved ones.

Under the new proposals being unveiled by Justice Secretary Ken Clarke, prisoners will be able to use the cash they earn to pay maintenance towards their partners and children like other absent fathers. They will also be allowed to save up "good behaviour bonds", nest eggs they can tap into after their release, provided they stay out of trouble. Mr Clarke claims that safeguards would be put in place that meant the funds could only be spent on legitimate items to help prisoners stay away from crime, such as training or work materials. The Justice Secretary wants to double the number of prisoners employed in productive work in jail to 20,000 by 2020.

A number of the new prisons are being designed with integrated factories. The Government will announce the first factory jails this year and will invite leading companies to tender for prison labour. MORE