Employment of convicts in the years 2009–2021: Statistical data analysis

Abstract

The article discusses the issue of employment of persons deprived of liberty (both convicted and sentenced). Its main areas of focus are the changes in the employment structure of inmates and the minimum wage of inmates. The doctrine of executive criminal law recognizes various functions (economic, sanitary, reppresive) of inmate employment, among which rehabilitation is — by far — one that garners the most public support. However, even highlighting the educational value of inmate employment, one must not forget that “for convicted offenders, works is primarily one of their basic duties, which significanlty overshadows their right to employment”. This article presents the situation of prisoners on the labor market and the dynamics of employment growth based on statistical data from a twelve-year period provided in the Annual statistical report for 2009–2021 by the Central Board of the Prison Service. The analysis shows that the absolute number of working prisoners is increasing on a steady basis.