While I would consider most things about prison to be understimulating, (at best) one thing that I have found absolutely fascinating is the economic system that exists behind these walls.
Every prisoner in the Colorado Department of Corrections has the option to have a job while they are incarcerated. Each facility has it's own job listings with some of those being common jobs like working in the kitchen, maintenance, library, janitorial etc. Other jobs are only offered at specific facilities like milking cows, woodworking, firefighting (SWIFT), highway cleanup, etc.
If you choose not to have gainful employment while incarcerated you receive $.24/day. Most of the common facility jobs pay $.84/day. As firefighters, we get paid $1.84/day and up to $20/day when we are on fires. So, on average, the typical inmate is grossing about $25/month. But, most inmates owe restitution in some form and so 20% of your monthly paycheck is applied towards restitution. So that leaves the average inmate about $20 of net monies each month. The only other "legitimate" source of money is to have people from the outside add money to your account. The sad truth is that a great majority of prisoners have either burned all bridges that would possibly provide additional monies in here or their circumstances never allowed for them in the first place.
The obvious question is, what do prisoners spend their money on? (keep in mind that at no point are we actually given cash-all transactions are handled via account). When prisoners are first brought into the COD they are issued the following items-
(1) Duffle Bag
(1) Jacket
(3) Pants
(3) Shirts
(1) Knit Cap
(1) Boots
(5) T Shirts
(5) Underwear
(5) Socks
Once a month, we are given the opportunity to buy more items from a Prison Catalog. The catalog offers everything from radios, TVs, and lamps to shorts, running shoes and bath robes. All of these items, of course, cost money. Once you buy these catalog items, they go on your permanent property list and if during an audit or room inspection you are in possession of something that is not on your list-it is confiscated and you chance being written up. Here is my entire property list with corresponding prices-
Alarm Clock-1 $16.89
Boxers-3 $4.31
Brush-1 $1.27
Comb-1 $ .38
Combination Lock-1 $6.70
Earbuds-1 $17.54
Fan-1 $29.05
Insoles-2 $15.32 (ea)
Mirror-2 $2.00
Moustache Scissors-1 $5.20
Nail Clippers-2 $ .72 (ea)
Athletic Socks-3 $1.14 (ea)
Sweatpants-2 $14.58(ea)
Sweatshirts-2 $14.58(ea)
15" Television-1 $286.42
New Balance Size 15 Shoe-1 $60.97
Thermal Shirts-2 $12.82(2)
Tweezer-1 $1.84
Watch-1 $23.38
As I write out what amounts to my entire prison net worth, you'll probably think how insignificant my possessions seem. What's amazing to me is how grateful I am for even the little things. Because I was moved between facilities so much in the beginning it took almost three months for me to get a pair of New Balance running shoes. I'd never be caught wearing them on the outside but as I workout every morning, I find myself being so grateful to just have a pair of shoes. And something as simple as a TV in your room can be a game changer. At $287.00 it would take an inmate with no outside financial support 15+ months of saving to afford a TV! Prison has given me perspective that I fear I never would have gained in any other circumstance.
The other way to spend money in here is on "canteen". We are provided three meals a day here but you can imagine- the meals are limited in their ability to satisfy the pallet (I hope that was politically correct enough).
If we want any snacks, additional food, toiletries and mail supplies, we order them via canteen each Wednesday. Canteen is a prison's version of going grocery shopping. (I've included a sample canteen list) The list is somewhat limited but prisoners are notorious for being creative with food. Some of the most popular items are soup (Top Ramen), coffee, Snickers, popcorn, cookies, Hot Cheetos, Ruffles, tuna, protein bars, Lean Meal, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc..But the most coveted item on all of canteen is the ICED HONEY BUN. At almost 800 calories, it is not uncommon to see inmates eat 3-4 a day.
On any given week I typically spend $50-$70 on food. My regular order always consists of pack of tuna, protein bars, PB Snickers, Lean Meal and my absolute favorite-Welch's Fruit Snacks. Not only are they my downfall but they remind me of my two little nephews. Although since I've lost 38 lbs in here, they are easier to justify.
Canteen orders are delivered on Tuesday nights. It's always intriguing to me the change in energy level as the goodie bags are delivered. The entire facility acts like we're on top of the world. However, by Thursday or Friday when all of the food has been consumed, the loan sharks start circling the weak. By Friday, the price of a honey bun has skyrocketed to double what it was purchased for. It's a simple supply and demand scenario. Those who want the honey bun typically do not have the means to buy it so they commit future payback by 2X. So here within the walls of a prison, we have a futures market-capitalism thrives in all environments!
It is actually against the rules to barter or sell goods so OBVIOUSLY none of that goes on. If any of it were to go on, postage stamps are what would be considered the currency. They hold their value extremely well and so the exchange rate (hypothetically of course) is equal to the value of the stamp. As I previously mentioned, a honey bun also has tremendous value and could yield huge capital gains later in the week-all depending on relative global supply and the unhealthy commodities markets in general.
Gotta love prison!
Thank you Brandon for fighting those SOB fires. Colorado needs you, and Utah could sure use you, too. God Speed
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