Fair wages for prisoners

California needs to start paying incarcerated workers better than slave wages. All workers deserve a competitive wage including prisoners. Being a prisoner does not mean one doesn't deserve fair compensation. Especially when so many are risking their lives. This system was put in place to maintain slavery after abolition and it has succeeded well. In addition to the human rights travesty this cheap labor market is bad for the economy by driving down wages. It also helps ensure that prisoners have very few resources on release drastically increasing the likelihood of recidivism, which of course was part of the original goal. California must reject it's remaining elements of Jim Crow and slavery. Giving prisoners competitive wages is a small but important step.