Why work?: A Study of Prison Labour in England, France and Germany.

Prison labour, the traditional backbone of regime activities, has come under attack in several European countries. Workshops seem unable to impart the skills needed for a successful integration into the labour market, given that less than 25 per cent of inmates find stable employment upon release. The economic performance of workshops is also decreasing; several are even operating at a loss. The question has become: Is prison labour an inefficient and expensive activity that should be reduc...