News Release - December 18, 2008
Georgia Department of Corrections
James E. Donald, Commissioner
Director of Public Affairs
Joan Heath
Contact: Office of Public Affairs (404) 656-9772
For Immediate Release
New Program Allows Prisoners to Work for Wages
Prison Industries Enhancement (PIE) Partnership With Bone Safety Signs, Inc.
Atlanta– The Georgia Department of Corrections announced today it is preparing to launch its first Prison Industries Enhancement, or “PIE” program, in partnership with Bone Safety Signs of Marietta, Georgia. The principle focus of this program is to fight recidivism by teaching skills to men and women who are incarcerated, thereby helping to prepare them for re-entry into society.
Bone Safety Signs will utilize inmates at Georgia State Prison in Reidsville, Georgia and Smith State Prison in Glennville, Georgia to manufacture signs, four days per week, 8-10 hours per day. Many of the inmates who will participate in the program have already been performing similar duties in the existing factories.
Inmates will be paid based on a prevailing wage plan, beginning at no less than minimum wage. The inmates must use those wages to pay victim funds, restitution and fines, room and board, and child support if ordered. Additionally, to help ensure they have resources once released, a mandatory amount of 10% of gross earnings will be held as savings.
The Prison Industries Enhancement Program was created by Congress in 1979 and approved by the Georgia General Assembly in 2005. It provides an opportunity for private companies, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Corrections, to produce their products “inside the wire” at any of our state prisons. It is specifically designed to ensure there is no displacement of “free world” jobs, does not occur in occupations where there is a surplus of labor, and does not impair existing contracts for services. The Georgia Department of Labor has certified that this criterion has been met in the communities surrounding Georgia State Prison and Smith State Prison.
The Department has a tradition of working inmates in various roles, including Georgia Correctional Industries factories, Transitional/Work Release programs, farming operation, fire stations, poultry and construction crews. “Work is a learned behavior,” said Corrections Commissioner James E. Donald. “Studies have confirmed that meaningful work and a suitable place to live are two key factors in the battle against recividism,” added Donald.
Bone Safety Signs has been producing “safety” products for twenty-eight years. They are one of the leading manufacturers of temporary traffic control devices in the United States.
The Department of Corrections is the fifth largest prison system in the United States and is responsible for supervising nearly 60,000 state prisoners and over 150,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 15,000 employees.
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