Paying the Price: Public Views on Prison Labor and Financial Obligations

Prison labor remains a defining feature of incarceration in the United States, with mandatory unpaid labor still legal in at least 16 states. Using survey data from a nationally representative sample (n = 582), this study examines public attitudes toward mandatory and optional prison labor, fair wages for incarcerated people, and financial obligations such as medical copays, phone calls, and hygiene supplies. Respondents broadly supported prison work and moderately supported mandatory labor. Although most endorsed compensation, recommended wages were substantially lower than those deemed fair for free-world workers. Older and higher-income respondents more often supported financial obligations, and Republicans disproportionately favored requiring payment for hygiene supplies. Support for rehabilitation predicted higher recommended wages. Findings underscore tensions between punitive policies and rehabilitation.