Arkansas amongst many states price-gouging prisoners on commissary objects

Brian Chilson

The Enchantment, a nonprofit information group specializing in felony justice, final week published an excellent report on commissary worth gouging in U.S. prisons. It features a database of prison commissary lists from 46 states, the primary of its form, in keeping with The Enchantment.

The listing reveals stunning markups versus common costs at retail shops, together with fundamental well being and hygiene merchandise, meals and spiritual objects. From the intro:

Taken collectively, the costs reveal an exploitative, inconsistent system that requires incarcerated individuals to buy many requirements at excessive markups.

The Enchantment’s investigation reveals that incarcerated individuals in lots of states are charged considerably extra for important objects than these outdoors jail regardless that they usually earn pennies an hour—or no wages in any respect. The Enchantment discovered jail costs as much as 5 occasions larger than in the neighborhood and markups as excessive as 600 %. This financial burden, which may value tons of of {dollars} per thirty days, is commonly passed onto prisoners’ loved ones.

Amongst their findings: In Arkansas, all meals objects that had been “deemed wholesome” had been marked up by 40%, as had been over-the-counter “well being aids” — together with studying glasses and denture adhesive. All remaining objects had been marked up by 50%. Gross, however not as dangerous as some states.

The report additionally discovered vital variation in costs throughout the state relying on the jail: “a package deal of chicken-flavored ramen bought for various costs at virtually each jail canteen within the state. At one jail, the merchandise value 29 cents and at one other 49 cents.”

Here’s the directive from the Arkansas Division of Corrections establishing their exploitative markup coverage.

Right here’s the full Arkansas commissary list, with some eye-popping price-gouging.

Check out the full report from The Enchantment, the product of a nine-month investigation.

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