A prison farm is a self-sustaining penal facility where inmates do manual labor, including agriculture, quarrying, and logging. It can reduce behavior problems and earn money for the prison system. Inmates can also work in the community, but it has been criticized as forced labor. Inmates can apply for transfer to prison farms and work as cooks, cleaners, etc. They are mostly in rural areas and have set visiting days and times.
A prison farm is a penal facility where inmates are put to work doing manual labor, using the products of labor to support operations on the prison farm, making it a self-sustaining operation. While farming is often associated with agriculture, and some prison farms are involved in agricultural activities, prison farms can also be used for quarrying, logging, and other activities. Facilities where prison labor is used to make products such as road signs and license plates are usually known as prison industries rather than prison farms.
Prison farms perform a number of functions. In some regions, forced labor is considered an important aspect of the criminal process and forcing prisoners to work is considered part of the punishment. The job can also keep inmates focused and reduce the risk of behavior problems in a prison by giving people something to do. The self-sufficient aspect can also be appealing, as keeping prisoners can be expensive. Prison farms can earn money for the prison system, as well as pay for themselves when they are well run.
In addition to working on a prison farm, inmates can also work in the community as part of what’s known as an inmate lease system. People who need work can hire prisoners to do it, receiving work at a discounted rate. Prisoners can usually work off-site if they have a good track record and part of their earnings can be entrusted for personal use. Some prison reform advocates have criticized the practice, arguing that it is a form of forced labor and could violate the human rights of prisoners.
On a prison farm, most of the job positions to support the prison, including cooks, cleaners, and so on, can be filled by inmates. Inmates who cannot work outdoors may be able to work indoors in these capacities. In some prison systems, people can actively apply for transfer to prison farms if they are interested in this type of work, and people can also apply for different positions at prison farms. In others, prisoner transfers are done at the discretion of officials and not upon request.
Prison farms are most commonly seen in rural areas, where there is room to establish a secure facility for working prisoners. As with other prison facilities, inmate visits can usually be arranged so that friends and family can see people in prison, with set visiting days and times. Arrangements usually have to be made well in advance, using a prison-run appointment system.
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