You asked for information about prison industries programs in neighboring states.

SUMMARY

We found information on prison industries programs in the three states surrounding Connecticut: Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.

Below we provide a brief description of their programs.

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts Correctional Industries (MassCor) is a division of the state's Department of Correction. It employs offenders to produce goods and services in skilled, paid jobs in factory settings supervised by corrections personnel with experience in the trades. MassCor states that the jobs help prepare offenders for their return to the community. MassCor's revenues are reinvested to expand and improve its industries.

MassCor's customers are primarily state and local agencies. But its customers also include Massachusetts residents, federal agencies, businesses, camps, nursing homes, schools, towns, hospitals, police and fire departments, social service agencies, and others. Purchasing terms differ for private, commercial, and public customers. State law exempts government agency customers, including counties and towns, from the usual bidding process.

MassCor's products include beds, mattresses, sheets, towels, binders, brooms, clothing, decals, lettering, embroidering, flags, janitorial supplies, trash barrels, signs, and posters. They also produce office furniture such as chairs, desks, and tables. MassCor also provides services such as an optical lab, reupholstering, and printing.

NEW YORK

In New York, the Division of Industries within the Department of Correctional Services markets Corcraft Products. Corcraft states that inmates are employed in real work situations to produce goods and services at competitive prices at no cost to taxpayers. Revenues are returned to the state's General Fund.

Corcraft states that it: (1) keeps inmates employed to help prevent disruption, (2) helps offset the cost of incarceration, (3) teaches work disciplines and job skills, and (4) helps address taxpayer expectations that inmates do something productive while incarcerated.

By law, Corcraft can only sell to government agencies at the state and local levels (including other states), schools and universities, courts, police departments, and certain non-profits. Corcraft commodities are exempt from the competitive procurement laws (bid process) for agencies.

Corcraft products include awards, desks, tables, lockers, shelving, classroom furniture, prison furniture, bedding, uniforms, clothing, signs, printing, garbage cans, janitorial products, police barriers, and eyeglasses (for correctional facilities and certain Medicaid patients). They also provide a teleresponse center, document processing, and indexing for the Department of Motor Vehicles.

RHODE ISLAND

The Rhode Island Department of Corrections operates Correctional Industries. Correctional Industries can sell products to political subdivisions and certain non-profit organizations. State departments are directed by statute to purchase from correctional industries. Eligible non-profit organizations include civic, charitable, educational, and fraternal organizations.

Products include furniture, signs, flags, janitorial supplies, paint, license plates, and printing. Services include auto body repair, copying, and furniture refinishing. Work crews can also perform some services such as moving, grounds maintenance, painting, building cleaning, and litter cleanup.

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