MN Inmate Labor Audited
A new audit says Minnesota’s prisons should tighten oversight of arrangements with private companies for inmate labor.
The Legislative Auditor’s office says Minncor Industries does a generally good job of running a profitable business and giving inmates something productive to do. But its report says prisoners’ work for private companies such as 3M Co. is less profitable for the state than their work making license plates and running canteens … The auditor also recommends standard contracts with the businesses and closer monitoring of the profitability of those contracts.
Inmates do everything from making tractors to packaging balloons for private companies. Minncor had its most profitable year ever in 2008, reporting net income of $3 million.