NCJ Number
82553
Date Published
1982
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The Free Venture Program, a pilot model prison industries program, is described, and the opportunities and problems of Federal legislation designed to implement the program are discussed.
Abstract
The Free Venture Program aims at incorporating the characteristics of private industries in prison industries. These characteristics include (1) a full workday; (2) wages based on production, with differentiation among workers by skill; (3) productivity standards comparable to those of private industry; (4) responsibility resting with industry management for hiring and firing workers; (5) operations becoming self-sufficient or profitable within a reasonable time after startup; and (6) coordination of prison industries with correctional and other agencies placing released inmates in jobs to maximize the benefits of the inmate's industrial experience. Through 1978, seven States had participated in the program. Passage of the 1979 Prison Industry Enhancement legislation was viewed by the Congress as a means of extending the Free Venture concept to other State prison industries. It encourages development of pilot and demonstration projects for prison industry at the State level while involving private industry and enhances the ability of State prison industries to market their goods by creating partial exemptions from Federal requirements that generally prohibit States from selling prison-made goods to other States and the Federal Government. Problems facing prison industries are the use of obsolete or antiquated equipment and facilities, limited markets, and limited profitability. Four references are listed.