Sunday, September 9, 2018

The National Prison Strike

Between August 21 and today, a nationwide prison strike has been in progress.   Incarcerated individuals across the nation have  protested in various ways.  Some stopped working their often grueling jobs that pay two to three dollars a day, sometimes less. Others have engaged in hunger strikes while many refused to purchase items from the prison commissaries.  Commissaries charge hugely inflated prices.   Strikers are particularly courageous as prison retaliation can be fierce, including solitary confinement.  

One of the major issues that prompted the protests is the poor quality and often dangerous food served to the prisons.  A Center for Disease Control study found that incarcerated people are more than six times more likely to get a food borne illness than other individuals.   Many states' prison food does not meet the state's own minimal nutritional standards.  The privatization of prisons, and prison food delivery has made conditions even worse as the quality of food deteriorates to make prisons and private corporations more profitable.  

Other concerns include ending forced labor, creating humane prison living conditions and developing prison policies that prioritize the humanity of the incarcerated.  

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/human_rights/2018/09/prison-strike-ends.html

Incarcerated, Margaret Drew, Prisons | Permalink

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