Data from the Mississippi Department of Corrections shows that approximately 35% of inmates will return to prison within three years of release. That’s below the national average, but a report by World Population Review shows rates more than double in the state within a five-year timeframe. During a hearing called by the Senate Study Committee on Recidivism, MDOC Commissioner Burl Cain says jobs are the answer.
“This is working well. This is the $1 million we set aside to pay the inmates, and we hope to have at least 6,000 inmates making some sort of wage by the end of this year,” says Cain. “Now, this is working really well because the inmates are asking for a job. ‘Where can I work? What can I do?’ And you would be surprised of the importance of a small wage because it buys a honey bun.”
Cain has spearheaded projects during his time at MDOC to increase wages for inmate workers and has grown programs that teach inmates skilled trades. He says the labor of incarcerated people is compensated up to 50 cents per hour, with the average being 30 cents. Prisoners' rights advocates have denounced this labor practice for unfairly compensating workers.
Commissioner Cain says the next step in the reintegration process is connecting incarcerated people with private companies. He says the work release program offers inmates the opportunity to earn around $15 dollars an hour and get a head start on a new career.
“Now we would love to see legislation to increase the work release program because that would also provide us more room, but it also puts inmates back in the workforce. And when these inmates leave the prison, they’ll many times be able to keep the job.”
Inmates who are considered to be gang-affiliated can not qualify for any of MDOC’s work programs.
Experts say another way to reduce recidivism is by ensuring inmates are closer to their families throughout their sentence and work release programs.
