Washington State Lawmaker With Past Convictions Introduces Bill To Pay Prisoners Minimum Wage

A Washington A former convict state lawmaker is seeking to start paying prisoners for work in prison.

Democratic Rep. Tarra Simmons It was stated in a statement, “This is an evolution of slavery,” and is proposing that the convicted felons be paid minimum wage for working in the kitchen or while producing other goods.

Simmons is an attorney and co-founder/director of the Civil Survival Project, an organization that advocates for former convicts. The representative has previously worked to restore voting rights to those convicted of felonies and to reduce penalties for drive-by shootings in order to promote “racial equity,” even as the state has grappled with a spike in shootings and homicides.

Simmons pre-filed House Bill 1024, also known as the “Real Labor, Real Wages Act,” for the upcoming 2023 state legislative session, which begins on Jan. 9.

She purports to be the first person elected to the legislature after being convicted of a felony. Simmons served a 30-month prison sentence for theft and drug charges and during her incarceration worked as a custodian as well as in the prison kitchen and laundry room.

Simmons claimed, “When I was incarcerated, I was forced to work graveyard shifts for less than $0.42 per hour,” and added that the income prisoners earn often goes toward fines and fees imposed by courts.

According According to the lawmaker felons do not have enough money to cover basic expenses after release. Being released from prison without financial support can lead to recidivism and homelessness as well as substance abuse and recidivism.

Simmons said, “If people can leave with enough money to have transportation, for housing, clothing, food and potentially some job training, hopefully they will have a better chance at not coming back.”

The A lawmaker proposes that half the minimum wage earnings of inmates be transferred into an account that cannot access until their release.

Simmons, American Civil Liberties UnionOther reform groups, including, argue that the US is a corrupt country. Constitution’s 13th AmendmentThe, which outlawed slavery and allowed states to continue, exempted prisoners. “exploiting” Convicted criminals.

They Some claim that incarcerated felons are forced to work for minimum wages by threats of punishment.

According To the Washington Department Of CorrectionsWorking in prison is part rehabilitation and one way for convicts after their sentence to return to society is through work. The agency cited Washington State University Research shows that prisoners who have completed prison work programs are less likely re-offend once they are released.

AdditionallyEx-inmates who served time in prison were more likely than their peers to have a legal source and earn more than those who didn’t participate in the work programs.

According To Center Square, Washington Correctional Industries This is a revenue-generating segment of the Department of Corrections It operates in 12 state prisons. The work program generates about $70 million in sales each year.

The outlet added that the program is the country’s fourth-largest prison labor program with almost 2,000 inmates working on projects earning between 65 cents to $2.70 per hour.

It The outlet pointed out that outside companies complain about unfair competitors because they are required pay minimum wage, which increases their production costs.