Jun 11, 2013
By Bob Sloan Today prison industries are booming with hundreds of thousands of prisoners employed in factories manufacturing a myriad assortment of products and providing services such as call centers, customer service, marketing, reservations and manual labor for municipalities. Thousands of American workers have been displaced by companies choosing low paid prisoners as a labor [...]
Apr 18, 2013
In response to an article by RICK MUIR PUBLISHED 18 APRIL 2013 11:58 in the “New Statesman” As conservative parties in nations across the pond attempt to emulate America’s Right Wing policies and initiatives, Rick Muir questions if replicating the “NEW” U.S. stance on imprisonment and criminal justice is warranted. Mr. Muir accurately depicts many of the [...]
Apr 15, 2013
For the second time in six months, Correction Corporation of America’s (CCA) privately owned Lake Erie Correctional Institution (LaECI) has received a dismal report from prison inspectors. A report, issued in February by the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee (CIIC) presents some very alarming statistics. “From 2010-2012, inmate-on-inmate assaults at LaECI have increased by over 180 [...]
Apr 13, 2013
Senators move quickly to rein in runaway prison program By Bob Sloan On Wednesday a proposed bill amending Nevada’s Prison Industries was debated before the state Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill, SB 478 was sponsored by the Senate Finance Committee, which is chaired by former Assemblywoman and now Senator Debbie Smith (D-13). Senator Smith explained the bill [...]
Apr 8, 2013
By Bob Sloan – Other Business owners complain of unfair competition – When researching material for the Study of Nevada’s Prison Industry Program (released in January), I discovered that in addition to several steel fabrication companies, several other industries and manufacturers have come forward saying they’ve also been compromised by Nevada’s prison industry. These businesses [...]
Apr 2, 2013
By Bob Sloan Like the military/industrial complex, the criminal justice industrial complex is an interweaving of private business and government interests. Its twofold purpose is profit and social control. Its public rationale is the fight against crime. To accomplish the goals the public must be made to fear their neighbors, fellow employees…to walk in a [...]
Mar 26, 2013
By Bob Sloan On Tuesday March 19th, the Nevada Board of Prison Commissioners (BPC) met in Carson City to discuss an assortment of prison related issues. Members of the BPC are: Governor Brian Sandoval, Attorney General, Catherine Cortez-Masto and Secretary of State, Ross Miller. Issues of: (a) realignment of state Parole and Probation responsibilities with [...]
Mar 13, 2013
By Justin Rohrlich Mar 12, 2013 1:21 pm From Minyanville… “The good news for the jobless? US industry is now in the throes of a “reshoring” trend… “The bad news? The Bureau of Prisons is angling to have as many reshored jobs as possible filled by federal prisoners.” Journalist Justin Rohrlich and VLTP Executive Director, Bob Sloan [...]
Mar 9, 2013
We have been posting about an investigation into prison labor violations in Nevada. Three posts by VLTP Executive Director Bob Sloan, which you can access here, here, and here. After exposing this to the entire Nevada State Legislature, Governor Sandoval (R), AG Masto (D), and Union leaders, and aided by an interview on the Dana Gentry [...]
