One of the hardest part with integrating former prisoners back into regular life is not only the lack of jobs but the restrictions on jobs they can take. Far too many states are regulated to the point the even trades many consider simple exclude felons. Even fire fighting in many states is not possible with convictions.<p>So besides giving them an opportunity to serve while incarcerated we need to make sure that incarceration does not keep them from rejoining society upon release simply because government rules tell them no.
We still have slave labor in the USA, just throw people in prison and strongly suggest to them their lives will suck less if they work for 30 cents per hour. If they want to go outside, they can get $1 an hour but they risk death.
I have to wonder, based on the restrictions on who they accept, how many of these people would have been better off just getting a job like this instead of going to prison?