By JAMI MITCHELL and KATHY OLDHAM
jami@du2.byu.edu
Editor's note: This is the second in a three-part series about the Utah prison system.
Some Utah state prison employees in Draper hope to reduce the return rate of inmates by giving model prisoners job opportunities within the prison walls.
Through these programs, prisoners learn work ethics, job skills and earn money, said Jack Ford, director of public information for Utah Corrections. The Utah Correctional Industries employes 800 of the 5,000 prisoners in 28 different work programs, Ford said.
Ross, one prisoner working in a UCI job, said his future has a better outlook through the things he has learned.
'I am learning computer and telemarketing skills. It is going to really help me so that I can go on and do what I want and get a degree as a Microsoft engineer,' Ross said.
Prisoners who participate in UCI programs have a substantially lower chance of being reincarcerated than inmates who did not work in these programs, Ford said.
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To receive the privilege of working at UCI, the inmate must be a model prisoner, Ford said. This means prisoners must not have any disciplinary action taken against them, show any signs of substance abuse or cause behavioral problems in the prison. Jobs at UCI are difficult to get and can be lost with minor misconduct, Ford said. Prisoners only have one chance of working in UCI; if they are fired, jobs cannot be recovered.
UCI programs benefit the State of Utah in several ways, Ford said. Through the programs, inmates are kept busy working, requiring less officer supervision. Another advantage is that Utah is able to cut back costs by employing prisoners at very low wages. Wages vary from $.50 per hour to minimum wage.
Inmates in the program manufacture license plates, print and copy government materials, perform data entry, manufacture road signs, build furniture and answer phones for the department of travel and tourism. There are also a few private sector jobs, such as clothing manufacturing and phone soliciting.
Scott, a prisoner who answers phones for the Utah Travel Council, said the job has helped him have a better attitude about life in prison.
'I probably smile a little more and laugh a little more. Interaction from the outside keeps me fresh. I feel like I am contributing and enlightening people,' Scott said.
Prisoners who already have a parole date set are allowed to participate in some jobs that leave prison grounds, such as firefighting and removing asbestos from schools.
Prisoners use money earned in their jobs for a variety of things. They often buy items not ordinarily issued to them by the state. Brand name shoes, television sets, headphones and junk food are popular items bought with their wages.
However, the money prisoners earn does not always go directly to their pockets. The state withholds money from some prisoners to use for victim compensation. Inmates are also required to save 20 percent of the money they receive. This money is given to them upon release to help their re-adjustment into society. Prisoners are also given the opportunity to invest the money they have earned, Ford said.
Another way prisoners are learning necessary life skills is by acquiring an education while in prison. Inmates have the option of earning their GED or a high school diploma, Ford said.