Buzz
Classic films, TV shows, and books often depict prisoners doing manual labor like digging ditches, farming, or working on railroads. However, the scope of prison labor has significantly expanded in recent years. Today, inmates produce a wide variety of everyday products, from license plates to furniture, earning a meager wage—often just $0.63 per hour. Both male and female prisoners across the United States are involved in making goods that the public uses every day. Here’s a list of ten products you might not know were created behind bars.
10. Victoria's Secret Lingerie
In the 1980s, some of Victoria's Secret's lingerie was produced by Third Generation, a company that subcontracted prisoners to sew the popular undergarments seen in stores and catalogs. Inmates at Leath Correctional Institution in Greenwood were hired to sew lingerie for several retail brands, including Victoria’s Secret.
This practice ceased in the 1990s after backlash from the public, despite Third Generation's claims that they intended to offer the inmates permanent employment after their release. Victoria’s Secret also responded, stating that they had no knowledge that prison labor was used in the production of their lingerie. Once the information came to light, they severed ties with the manufacturer. The third season of Orange Is the New Black features a plotline where inmates sew lingerie for a company that alludes to Victoria’s Secret.
9. Canoes
Inmates in Colorado are trained with valuable skills during their incarceration to enhance their employability upon release. The Colorado Correctional Industries program manages over 50 work programs in areas like agriculture and manufacturing. Inmates at Fremont Prison spent a significant portion of their time making license plates, but they also acquired the expertise to craft fiberglass-sealed canoes.
Using redwood scraps from the furniture shop, the prisoners crafted the canoes. Each layer of the canoe was carefully tacked and glued together in a tongue-and-groove pattern before the wood was sanded smooth. Once the surface was flawless, the inmates applied resin and fiberglass to waterproof the canoes. They produced a single-seat canoe weighing about 35 pounds (16 kilograms) and a double-seat version at around 70 pounds (32 kilograms). These canoes were priced at about $1,500, far less than the typical market price of around $5,000.
8. Military Jackets
UNICOR, also known as Federal Prison Industries, is a government-run corporation where inmates produce high-quality goods. With several factories in operation, UNICOR employs prisoners to manufacture various products. Military jackets are just one of the many items prisoners craft to support the U.S. military, including helmets, uniforms, and footwear.
Government agencies are mandated to purchase from UNICOR, as it is the most cost-effective method for the government to provide clothing for soldiers. Inmates were once paid as little as 23 cents per hour to manufacture the equipment and apparel. While the government saves money by utilizing inmate labor, this doesn't always result in the best quality. For example, tens of thousands of helmets produced by inmates were recalled due to subpar workmanship. Ironically, inmates are also involved in manufacturing police gear.
7. Baseball Hats
Baseball is often referred to as the great American pastime, and what could be more American than having baseball hats made by inmates in a crowded correctional facility? UNICOR, which produces military and police gear, also employs prisoners to manufacture items available to the general public.
To prevent competition between private-sector products and those made in prison, UNICOR is restricted from selling many of its goods outside of government contracts. However, one item that can be sold to private companies and individual customers is the baseball hat. These hats come in both solid and mesh styles, are offered in various colors, and even have an option for custom embroidery.
6. Blue Jeans
One of the last jean manufacturers in America is based in a prison in Oregon. The Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution, a medium-security facility housing over 1,500 inmates, is where Prison Blues jeans are produced. Located in Pendleton, Oregon, the factory employs about 75 incarcerated individuals who work five days a week for around eight hours a day, crafting jeans and other clothing items.
The workers earn up to about $300 per week, but the primary goal of the job is to equip them with skills that will benefit them after release. In the U.S., Prison Blues is often viewed as a workwear brand, popular among loggers and other outdoor laborers, competing with names like Carhartt. While not as well-known as Levi’s in the U.S., Prison Blues jeans and denim jackets are gaining popularity in places like Japan, where the brand is seen as fashionable among the younger crowd.
5. McDonald’s Uniforms
McDonald’s is known for its enormous profits from selling burgers and fries to millions globally, but the fast-food giant has found another way to further boost its earnings. McDonald's employee uniforms are produced by prisoners in Oregon. While McDonald's doesn’t directly manage the labor, they rely on prison workers to cut costs and increase their profits.
In the past, McDonald's also utilized prison labor for several of its frozen food products. Inmates have been responsible for preparing potatoes for their iconic fries, processing beef for burgers, and manufacturing various chicken items.
4. Dentures
A report from the Houston Chronicle revealed that many inmates were being denied dentures despite needing them. In response to this issue, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice announced the opening of a new dental clinic that would offer the first 3-D printed dentures in U.S. prisons. This new machine, installed at the Goree Unit in Huntsville, was designed to print hundreds of dentures for inmates. Despite being produced in a prison, these dentures are not crafted by the prisoners themselves.
In 2007, eight female inmates in Kansas were chosen to create dentures for low-income patients. After patients had their impressions taken, the female inmate technicians would create molds using wax and plastic. The clinic would then ensure the mold was a perfect fit before returning it to the prisoners to add the plastic teeth and acrylic to finish the dentures. Due to the program’s success, the facility expanded to give more female inmates the opportunity to participate in making dentures.
3. Art
San Quentin State Prison in California has been home to several infamous inmates, including Richard Ramirez (the Night Stalker) and Charles Manson, but today’s inmates are being offered a rare chance to sell their artwork. Through a program called ArtReach: Reaching Out with Art and Poetry from Death Row, inmates on death row are allowed to sell their art while incarcerated.
Inmates create various forms of art, from paintings to poetry, and sell them through an online store. This program, founded by artist Nicola White, was established to ensure inmates and their families receive a larger share of the earnings from sales compared to the prison's own hobby program. While some people argue against providing inmates a platform to sell their art, it’s often true that the most beautiful creations can emerge from the most unlikely places.
2. Caskets
Angola Prison in Louisiana, home to some of the state's most infamous criminals, is also considered one of the most dangerous prisons in the U.S. Despite its reputation, Angola is a self-sufficient facility with inmates keeping busy. Some work on the prison farm growing food for the population, while others spend time in the woodworking shop. Many of the items they create, from bowls to rocking chairs, are sold during the Angola Prison Rodeo, held twice a year in April and October.
Some skilled inmates in the woodworking program craft wooden caskets. The tradition began when the prison warden noticed that some inmates were being buried in simple cardboard boxes due to their families’ inability to afford proper caskets. The warden allowed inmates to start making plywood caskets for themselves, which eventually turned into a service for the public. These caskets, costing around $200 to make, were lined with mattress pads and featured a wooden cross on the lid. Notably, evangelist Billy Graham was buried in a pine plywood casket made by Angola inmates.
1. Park Furniture
For over four decades, PRIDE (Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises) has been providing Florida inmates with valuable skills and certifications to help them reintegrate as productive members of society upon their release. The program boasts that inmates who participate in their training are three times less likely to reoffend. Inmates are trained to produce over 3,000 products and services, including furniture, storage solutions, clothing, food, license plates, and more.
The PRIDE program also instructs inmates on crafting park furniture such as picnic tables, benches, kiosks, and trash bins. They produce tables with both wooden and metal legs, as well as a variety of bench styles, including park benches, transit benches, contour benches, and trail benches. Anyone interested in purchasing park furniture from PRIDE can simply visit their website or contact the customer service center via phone or email to place an order.
