Comment by sejje

14 hours ago

How much of the US economy is powered by prisoners?

Depends on the sector. For example, in California's large-scale wildfire responses, forced prison labor in firefighting acts as an important auxiliary force. https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/los-angeles-firefighters-...

In Arkansas, agricultural work accounted for 17% of all prison labor assignments in 2021. https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/media/publications/Captive_L...

  • That doesn't answer at all.

    17% of prison assignments might be 3 assignments for all I know.

    I found a number in your document: "...1.2 million people incarcerated in state and federal prisons, over 65 percent work."

    That's 780,000.

    And there's 163 million working folks in the USA.

    Prisoners power .4% of the economy.