James is in AZ and he gets $0.50 an hour. He's never once complained to me about the price of commissary because he knows right now I can't afford to send him any extra. I think if anything needs a battle won it's the price they pay inmates per hour not trying get a bar of soap at a lower price. Maybe even getting the prisons that don't the prisoners to work to start paying them something.

This is one topic that Scott and I talk about quite a bit and my opinions on this matter are pretty harsh. It costs taxpayers over $43,000 per year to house ONE inmate. People make choices, some bad ones that land them in prison, and they must face the time for their decisions. I personally do not believe that taxpayers should be footing another bill for inmates to receive higher education degrees or any "freebies." We all work hard out here to survive and they should not be handed anything for free. Their hourly wages are low, but at least they can earn an hourly wage. It teaches responsibility. Some of the jobs are menial that they are earning wages for such as stacking plates once everyone has finished chow. But yet, they are learning responsibility and earning a wage for that. I do not believe that any of them should be complaining that they are not earning what is earned in civilian life as they chose where they are by breaking the law. Perhaps I practice tough love with this subject, but I truly believe that everyone is responsible for his/her own actions and as much as prison life rots, there really should be no demands for a glorified lifestyle while behind bars.

I don't know if this was a post in responds to my request for comissary prices lists, but I agree with you as far as the inmates working for an hourly wage even if it is a small one. Anything would help. But where my husband is they are not given that opportunity. So even if these guys want a bar of soap it is left up to the families to send money for them to buy it. He is in there right now with guys that have nothing and have no one to send them anything and they have literally been in there for MONTHS! without a shower, at least not one that consisted of soap.
So I am not asking for a reduction in things that would be considered a luxury (i.e. candy, playing cards, etc.) I am talking about soap, toothpaste, deodarant, etc. Basic hygiene necessaties.

Maybe it is just the facility my husband is in but when these guys get to smelling bad enough the other guys don't want to be around them, if someone doesn't share what little they have, the smelly guy gets put in lockdown. This facility currently has an outbreak of staph infection and their response is just to throw meds at the guys instead of clean up the problem so to speak. I have complained to the state health dept but it fell on deaf ears because as far as we can tell nothing has been done about it.

Sorry to vent on you all but I just visited my guy last night so I am a little ticked.

It is shocking to me that the bare neccessities (soap, tootpaste, toothbrushes) are not being supplied to every inmate in this country. I would assume that the medical/dental issues that this causes (and that the taxpayers foot the bill for) would be enough for the prisons to look at the supplying of these as preventative.

As far as the wages go, I am with dmvbinder on this one...probably not a shock on that though, I think ya'll know I am one serious b***h!!!

Staph infection is very catchy, and they should supply what a person needs to keep themselves clean with, soap,washcloth,deoderant,etc. My husband has worked all the years he is in there, well after he grew up that is, took him about 5 years. I agree that tax payers should not be fliping the bill, but then it takes to release some old timers back into society, "ESPECIALLY"----"INNOCENT PRISONERS" My husband is going to die in hell for something he did not do. He does not want to be in there, he should have never been rail-roaded to begin with.

Oh let me stop, yes, my post was in reference to comminsary prices, and it leaded into more, "JOBS", why they have 23 hour lockdown in some of these facilities accross the state is un-known to me. Unless a guy/gal is a high risk there should be general population, end of story, then they could create jobs for them, and cominsary.
Lynn
Sorry, mispelled words, I'm so drained today.

Hi Mama, when my daughter was in prison before (she is waiting to go again) she was lucky that she did get a little job in there. It is so hard for us out here, and it is not that we don't want to help, it is just that sometimes we cannot. I agree, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. It is good for them to get a little job. I also think along with preparing them, it helps with their minds.
EllaBlue

GEE HERE IN TX DENNIS IS ONLY MAKING .12 AN HOUR BUT THEY ARE TAKING $25. OUT OF HIS FUND EVERY THREE MONTHS FOR HIS FINES

my husband works outside on a farm and says he "gets paid 20 days a month". here in FL most jobs don't pay at all in prison.

we're just thrilled he gets to leave the prison almost on a daily basis and he gets to work outside in open fields with little supervision. he even had such a cute story the other day.

one of the sheep had little lambs, and one of the lambs keeps following everyone around like a little puppy! you should've heard him mimick the little sweet bleating sound!

awww!!!!