Policy says if you have an inmate job the lowest pay rate is .12 an hour. Today was payday for inmates at FMC CARSWELL. I am an orderly in my unit and clean showers. I start everyday at 7:30 A.M. and work until 9:00 P.M. and check the showers every 2 hours during my shift. I worked 140 hours this month and signed for a paycheck for $15.60 which was approximately $3.00 less than my normal pay. $15.60 was not what I was paid. I was paid $2.40. That what I said $2.40, and I was one of the fortunate ones, other orderlies made paychecks ranging from .12 to $5.25. For working 140 hours and doing my job properly I made .0172 cents per hour. That’s right folks a penny. Slavery in prison is real.
On top of that there is not one hygiene item that I can buy for $2.40. Colgate Toothpaste $3.70. Sauve Shampoo $4.55. Dove Soap $2.55. And those are the cheapest for the items on our commissary. They only provide a 2 oz. bottle of shampoo/bodywash, a .75 tube of toothpaste, and 3 small bars of harsh handsoap per month for free hygiene that is suppose to last for a whole month. Hygiene is not readily available to the inmate population as an as needed basis.
The reason for the pay…..no budget. When I talked to my supervisor, his comment was also…..”no budget.” Can’t wait to hear what the Warden says…..
