Proposal Would Double Pay for Most Incarcerated Workers in California

California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is considering a proposal to increase pay for most inmates working in the state’s prison system. According to the proposal, such would “ensure its inmate population is treated with dignity and has the resources and skills needed to transition back to society” by increasing “inmate pay … commensurate with the job skill level, and also be deemed fiscally responsible based on inflation.” Noting the decades-long gap between pay raises, officials are suggesting boosting pay across five levels of incarcerated workers—with exceptions for those employed in manufacturing and similar operations—and for all four grades of those employed in conservation camp programs where low-risk inmates are used for firefighting and fire prevention efforts....