GRANTING WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION BENEFITS TO PRISON INMATES

• NCJ Number: 17668
• Journal: Southern California Law Review Volume: 46 Issue: 4 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1973) Pages: 1223-1262
• Author(s): T E HOLLIDAY
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 30 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Southern California
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AFTER REVIEWING THE PRISON LABOR PROGRAMS AND THE LAWS WHICH DENY WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION TO INMATES, THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES REHABILITATIVE, ECONOMIC, AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF THESE BENEFITS AND CALLS FOR THEIR EXTENSION TO INMATES.

Abstract

THE AUTHOR OF THIS NOTE CONTENDS THAT GRANTING WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION TO PRISONERS WOULD PROMOTE THE GOAL OF REHABILITATION IN THREE WAYS: IT WOULD REDUCE HOSTILITY OF THE INMATE TOWARDS THE PRISON SYSTEM DUE TO A LOSS OF WAGES RESULTING FROM INJURY; IT WOULD ACT AS A POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT FOR DESIRABLE BEHAVIOR; AND IT WOULD EASE THE TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE BY IMPROVING JOB SAFETY IN PRISONS AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DISABLED PRISONERS, AND BY PROVIDING DISABLED PRISONERS WITH SOME POST-RELEASE FINANCIAL SUPPORT. IT IS ALSO ARGUED THAT THESE BENEFITS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO DISABLED INMATES BECAUSE DENIAL OF THESE BENEFITS INCREASES THE SOCIETAL COST OF OPERATING CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND DEPRIVES THE PRISONER OF EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW IN VIOLATION OF THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)