Minimum Wage for Incarcerated People

Testimony in Support of H 7853 – Minimum Wage for Incarcerated People
House Finance Committee
April 10, 2024
Hector G. Perez-Aponte, Policy Analyst, the Economic Progress Institute

The Economic Progress Institute strongly supports Representative Diaz’s HB 7853, which would increase the minimum wage amount for any person committed to the adult correctional institution from three dollars to five dollars a day.

All individuals deserve fair compensation for their work, regardless of their social status. Rhode Islanders value hard work and fairness. These values should extend to incarcerated individuals who should be treated with the same respect as any other class of essential workers. State agencies, non-profits, cities and towns purchase products such as jackets, unforms, helmets, and shoes, which are deemed “Prison Made Goods and Services.”1 Although our state government and private industries benefit from prison labor, prisoners are not compensated nearly enough for the work they perform. 2 Worse still, incarcerated individuals are subject to fees which decrease the amount of income they have upon release.3 These fees may include costs related to “room and board”, court costs, restitution, and sustaining prisons. Furthermore, these fees can also extend to phone calls, hygiene products (which are given only under certain conditions), and medical care.4 With Black and Latinx individuals being more likely to be incarcerated than any other demographic, low wages for incarcerated people also exacerbate racial disparities.5

Ensuring that individuals are released with a modest sum in savings can increase the likelihood of achieving financial stability and reduce the chances of recidivism.6 Although not comprehensive enough, HB 7853 is a desperately needed step forward towards more humane and meaningful working conditions for incarcerated individuals. We strongly urge passage.