This is topic "State Prisoners Working" in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 06-17-2002, 07:31 PM:
Is Florida the only phugged up state that puts its state prisoners to work on the public highways?? How safe do you feel every time you drive by one of those orange construction signs that says "State Prisoners Working"? They even had them doing landscaping at the university I went to a couple of years ago! It sure is comforting to know that these people, who are in prison in many cases due to a crime involving some kind of dangerous weapon, are picking up trash with a nice big stick with a SHARP POINT on the end. I'm sure there are officers nearby to watch them, but I still don't like it. Not one bit. No sir.
Posted by James R. Hammonds, Jr (Member # 673) on 06-17-2002, 07:47 PM:
It never bothered me.
I sometimes scoff at them.------------------
Find me online
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yahoo!: dexter_caldwell
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Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 06-17-2002, 07:50 PM:
Oregon does that. I think they only use minimum-security prisoners or "youth offenders" who are doing community service.
Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 06-17-2002, 07:59 PM:
Actually I think it's a great idea. Those guys (and gals) and the folks on welfare can surely do something to contribute something back to society. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to the library only to find it closed because of funding problems. Let the welfare folks help out at places like that. Roads that need fixin or ditches that need to be dug... get the prison guys out there. There's tons of stuff that these folks can do. Just get some guy with some mirrored sunglasses and a large rifle sittin on a horse to tend them. No problems...
I'm kinda tired of paying taxes to keep these guys------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
http://www.muellersatomics.com/
Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 06-17-2002, 08:16 PM:
Yeah, I'd much rather have them using prion labor for "community service" work like roadside cleanup, rather than using them for real factory work (which I think Oregon also does). Of course the factory workers might be higher security risks.
Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 06-17-2002, 08:20 PM:
In New Zealand they have a sort of weekend prison where non profit groups can get their really shitty jobs done.Our cinema had the back of the building cleared of weeds/trees etc.
Just don't ask them to do something that would involve more than 20 I.Q. points.
Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 06-17-2002, 09:18 PM:
And since prisoners are used to sitting in confining cells in boredom,wouldn't they adapt marvellously to the confines of projection booths? Why, they could be taught to thread and run
projectors! It would cost only the token cig & candy payment the
county or state provides--maybe $.50 per day--and save the theatre chains a bundle! You might have to restrain those with Attention-Deficit-Disorder, maybe by chaining them to the machines for the first
few days, but the Class "A" prisoners can learn to build and breakdown
prints. Hell, they'd be good at toting film cans and moving prints.
And those with pretty faces or soft spoken drawls could man the concessions! Man this would save the theatre chains such huge amounts of payroll, they could let go those expensive minimum-wage
workers, and maybe even get out of bankruptcy court!.
Posted by James R. Hammonds, Jr (Member # 673) on 06-17-2002, 09:23 PM:
Oh boy, I hope your kidding. 
Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 06-17-2002, 09:26 PM:
We do that here--they get their exercise and earn their keep in our 110 degF summer/30 degF winter desert! 
BTW the Feds do the same thing--the custodial staff at Nellis AFB here is composed of minimum security prisoners from the federal facility located next to the base. Used to see them mopping the halls when I was in college out there.
No problem in either case security wise--armed guards always on hand plus I carry--that's legal here.
Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 06-18-2002, 02:39 AM:
Getting prisoners to repair roads or open libraries might also teach them some useful skills which they could then use to earn an honest living when they get out rather than commit more offences.We have 'community service orders' in the UK but they are an alternative to jail rather than part of a jail sentence. They are never imposed for offences involving violence against another individual or if the convict is considered likely to re-offend. They are usually imposed for white-collar crimes such as theft and fraud.
Some prisons do have inmates working outside the prison itself, but only in remote rural areas where the risk of escape is minimised. I don't think it happens on any major scale.
Posted by Jim Ziegler (Member # 86) on 06-18-2002, 09:15 AM:
Ken,Don't worry, there are always guards with shotguns watching the prisoners...
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 06-18-2002, 09:31 AM:
Great movies about chain gangs: 
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0051525
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0061512
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0023042
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0190590 ------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
Posted by James R. Hammonds, Jr (Member # 673) on 06-18-2002, 11:56 AM:
I can eat 50 eggs.
Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 06-18-2002, 12:01 PM:
I wouldn't be afraid. Those prisoners working on the side of the road are probably just harmless misdemeanor drug offenders. They put the dangerous ones behind the deli counter at the supermarket to swear at and threaten the customers. (not joking)=TMP=