SD18 - Report of the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Economic Productivity of the Prison Population and Work Release Programs

  • Published: 1983
  • Author: Joint Subcommittee to Study the Economic Productivity of the Prison Population and Work Release Programs
  • Enabling Authority: Senate Joint Resolution 91 (Regular Session, 1980)

Executive Summary:
The Joint Subcommittee on Economic Productivity of the Prison Population and on Work Release Programs was authorized to conduct its study by Senate Joint Resolution No. 91, agreed to during the 1980 Session of the General Assembly. The study was continued during 1981 pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution No. 128, agreed to by the 1981 Session, and during 1982 as authorized by Senate Joint Resolution No. 33, agreed to by the 1982 Session [Appendix A].

Senate Joint Resolution No. 91 requested that the Joint Subcommittee:

1. Study the manner in which prison labor is employed to find ways to make such labor more productive and remunerative, thereby reducing the cost to taxpayers for maintaining such prisoners in the state system of corrections.

2. Consider the way in which the employment of prison labor is related to rehabilitation and to the system of probation and parole to assure that the demonstrated willingness of prisoners to work and to study is closely related to the awarding of "good time" and the eligibility for probation and parole.

3. Study the expansion of the state-operated work release program and mechanisms to provide financial incentives to localities to establish or to expand existing local work release programs.

The Joint Subcommittee was further requested to review the following matters by the 1981 Session of the Legislature:

1. The laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States governing prison industries and the disposition of their products.

2. The impact on the private sector of expanding prison industries with designated products and the need for additional financial support of these industries by the Commonwealth in order for them to expand.

3. The utilization of work release and other work-related activities as they relate to probation and parole.

The Joint Subcommittee submitted its initial report to the Governor and the 1982 Session of the General Assembly. The report is contained in Senate Document No. 22.

The Joint Subcommittee was requested by the 1982 Session of the legislature to focus its study on:

1. Increasing the prison labor force for highway construction and maintenance, including a determination of the feasibility of using prison labor to construct small bridges throughout the Commonwealth.

2. Expanding the printing and data processing operations of the Department of Corrections.

3. Encouraging private, nonprofit organizations to purchase goods and services produced through prison enterprises.

4. Examining the feasibility of issuing bonds to finance prison industries.

5. Restricting exemptions from statutory mandates which require state agencies and institutions to purchase goods and services produced by prison enterprises.

6. Encouraging the development of local work release programs.

Appointed to serve on the Joint Subcommittee were: Stanley C. Walker of Norfolk, Chairman, and William A. Truban of Woodstock, Vice Chairman, from the Senate Committee on Finance; Frank W. Nolen of New Hope and Ray L. Garland of Roanoke from the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services; Frank M. Slayton of South Boston and Alson H. Smith, Jr., of Winchester from the House Committee on Appropriations; and J. Samuel Glasscock of Suffolk, Robert C. Scott of Newport News, Norman Sisisky of Petersburg, and S. Vance Wilkins of Amherst from the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions.