Committee hears HB 291 to bar DOC contracts with for‑profit inmate‑labor programs; DOC said to support codifying current practice
Sen. Hofner introduced HB 291 to prohibit the Department of Corrections from contracting with for‑profit entities that use inmate labor; sponsor cited national figures on inmate‑labor contracts and said the DOC supports the bill as codifying current practice. No public commenters were recorded on HB 291 and no committee vote was recorded.
The full story
Sen. Hofner introduced House Bill 291 to the Senate Corrections and Public Safety Committee, saying the bill would prohibit the Delaware Department of Corrections from entering into contracts with for‑profit entities to use inmate labor. Hofner said some states pay incarcerated workers far less than minimum wage, described the practice as ‘‘morally wrong’’ when private companies profit from low inmate pay, and cited estimated national contract figures, saying such contracts generate about $9,000,000,000 in services and $2,000,000,000 in goods annually.
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