Prisoner Labor: Perspectives on Paying the Federal Minimum Wage

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the potential effects on prison work programs if the nation's prisons are required to pay minimum wages for prisoner work, focusing on: (1) inmates' labor wages as compared to minimum wages; (2) views of federal and state prison officials on how the minimum wage would potentially affect prison systems; and (3) views of organized labor and other organizations on paying prisoners minimum wage.