$1 an hour is a common wage for incarcerated people Washington according to a new report from Columbia Legal Services. The report’s authors interviewed dozens  of people who are incarcerated, and they highlight what they call exploitative labor practices in state prisons.

The prisoners interviewed for the report not only made far below minimum wage, but also felt it was necessary to supplement their Department of Corrections-provided meals and hygiene products by buying protein bars, shakes, and toothpaste from the commissary.

It may take hours or, in some cases, a whole day of work to earn enough money to buy commissary goods.

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