We are working on a brand new version of the game! If you want to stay informed, read our blog and register for our mailing list.
Bill: Prisoner Work Act
Details
Submitted by[?]: United Socialist Movement
Status[?]: passed
Votes: This is an ordinary bill. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: February 2110
Description[?]:
| The United Socialist Movement agrees that many prisoners are in jails for a reason - because they have broken the law or posed a danger to society, and that must be punished. However, we are troubled by the fact that able prisoners must work during the day. A prisoner has broken the law, yes, and prison is his/her punishment, but work has nothing to do with this. The Bill therefore, asks to allow prisoners to work for a small wage, and this is voluntary. We understand that the opposition to this will say that by working, prisoners are repaying their debt to society. We reject this. The prisoner is already paying for their crimes with their freedom - and in many cases that is punishment enough. The state should not be able to profit from what is basically slave labour, since they do not get any payment for this. This does not rehabilitate criminals, rather it fosters resentment for the government since they have had to toil for nothing whatsoever. There will be people incarcerated who have a family to support, and by being prisoned a significant proportion of wages may be cut off. With a small wage at least, the family can have some financial assurance. Why should other family members suffer because of someone's crime? We cannot force someone to work, especially with no pay. We ask that this exploitation is ended, and hope others will agree too. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Prison policy concerning prisoner labor.
Old value:: Able-bodied prisoners have to work during the day.
Current: Prisoners can do certain jobs in prison, voluntarily, for a small wage.
Proposed: Prisoners can do certain jobs in prison, voluntarily, for a small wage.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 17:43:20, September 11, 2005 CET | From |  Liberal-Progressive Union | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act |
| Message | You have my support. |
| Date | 18:01:10, September 11, 2005 CET | From | We Say So! Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act |
| Message | No. The whole point of prison is as a punishment. Where is the punishment in paying the person who committed the crime, and also saying that, should they not wish to, they don't have to work and can stay in their rooms if they wish? Prisons are expensive to operate, all the work that those incarcerated within the prison system do pays for their board. Those incarcerated within the prisons receive free food, clean shelter, education, not to mention they pay no tax. Why should they not pay their way through working? |
| Date | 18:15:40, September 11, 2005 CET | From | United Socialist Movement | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act |
| Message | Again, prison is punishment in the fact that it denies those in it their freedom. No more, no less. Community service on the other hand, is different. Don't confuse the two and put them together. Prisoners should not be forced into working. |
| Date | 18:21:20, September 11, 2005 CET | From | We Say So! Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act |
| Message | Who's confusing the two, I'm not. Those within the system may not be able to leave the prison, big deal. "Mr. X, you have murdered 5 chlidren., how do you plead? Guilty. I sentance you to life imprisonment where you receive free food, shelter, clean clothes, tax exemption and, should you want it, money". The point of prison is punishment and rehabilitation. The work that the priosners do is used as part of the rehabilitation process. Please read the bill description of the existing law http://82.238.75.178:8085/particracy/main/viewbill.php?billid=4259 . Or if you would rather: "In order that those found guilty of crime re-pay a debt to society, and provide a product from their incarceration, they will be provided with work to carry out, without payment as part of their rehabilitation. However, their financial position outside of prison will be put on hold (they will pay no tax) and, upon their release (should they be released) they will be provided with work, based around that which they have been doing within their prison term, as well as housing on a limited contract until they can provide fully for themselves again." |
| Date | 18:21:57, September 11, 2005 CET | From | Liberal-Progressive Union | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act |
| Message | Forced labor is immoral. It doesn't matter if your a prisoner or not it's a form of slavery. Community service gives something back to society rather than forced work as punishment. |
| Date | 18:24:44, September 11, 2005 CET | From | United Socialist Movement | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act |
| Message | WSS! - I did read the Bill. I also find it dubious how forced labour could have rehabilitating powers. You also fail to address my point concerning the families of criminals. |
| Date | 18:47:19, September 11, 2005 CET | From | We Say So! Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act |
| Message | The families of criminals continue to operate as before. If they are employed, they get paid. If they are not employed they are provided with State benefits. The families of the criminals are not criminals are so are not treated as such, they continue to receive the same benefits as any other law abiding citizen. The labour is used in conjunction with the education. They are provided with skills necessary to operate in the workplace once they leave (should they leave) prison and, as such, are helped in being rehabilitated back into society. There work is, not only beneficial for helping to pay for their upkeep, but also beneficial in providing the reformed criminals with structure and work once they leave prison. |
| Date | 19:12:16, September 11, 2005 CET | From | United Blobs | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act |
| Message | I'd forgotten about this... We strongly support this proposal and hope that it can be quickly passed before elections. |
| Date | 22:10:17, September 11, 2005 CET | From | United Socialist Movement | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act |
| Message | WSS! - Surely you realise that if the person in prison was the only person in the family on a comfortable wage, and then get incarcerated, it's going to be tremendously difficult for a family to operate on such a dramatic drop in income? |
| Date | 22:32:11, September 11, 2005 CET | From | Left Communist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act |
| Message | We agree that returning the law back to its previous state is a good idea, and fully back this. |
subscribe to this discussion - unsubscribe
Voting
| Vote | Seats | |||||
| yes |
Total Seats: 275 | |||||
| no | Total Seats: 90 | |||||
| abstain | Total Seats: 35 |
| Random fact: Periodically, it is a good idea to go through your nation's Treaties and arrange to withdraw from any that are unwanted. |
| Random quote: "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." - Winston Churchill |