CrimLaw

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Dell's going to stop using prison labor in its recycling. They faced criticism from enviromental groups:

[T]he Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition said in its report that inmates who work at the prison recycling operation were not protected by the Fair Labor Standards Act and were paid from 20 cents to $1.26 an hour.

At first when I read that I thought that it meant that the prisoners were knee deep in toxic sludge but as I look at it again I think that the complaint is that they're not getting paid enough. If so, this is a case of a group doing more harm than good.

What's the worst complaint about prison? The overwhelming boredom. And boredom leads to trouble. Being able to get out and do something is a privilege which gives inmates an incentive to stay out of trouble. A living wage is a good thing but they already have food and housing and clothing provided. The ability to do something is payment in itself and the little money they actually get gives them some money for the canteen. Of course, they won't have any of this now. Congrats to the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition.

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