Lawmakers Want Prison Work, No Play

Tuesday, July 2, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Rep. John Ensign and state Sen. Mark James, both Republicans, are touting the proposals as part of prison reform legislation for both state and federal prisoners.

Ensign said Monday he will introduce legislation for federal prisoners that would mandate work programs and limit such things as television watching and music with violent or sexually explicit messages.

James said he would introduce similar legislation next year for Nevada's 7,000 prisoners.

The plan, presented at a joint press conference, was called "campaign hogwash" by Ensign's Democratic challenger, state Sen. Bob Coffin.

"Keeping prisoners busy is a really great goal, but you can't find enough jobs that would not displace small business. That's why it's impossible to make this work," Coffin said.

Ensign said prison labor could be used to entice American companies that have gone overseas for cheap labor to return to the U.S. and use inmate labor.

Neither Ensign nor James knew what it would cost government to mandate 50 hours of weekly work by prisoners. Both said they were waiting for cost estimates.

Nevada Prisons Assistant Director Howard Skolnick said in Nevada the cost of prison industries is about $25,000 an inmate.

Requiring work of all prisoners also requires more staffing and can create problems if the prison industries compete with outside businesses, Skolnick said.

And because work is now a privilege at prisons, he said, requiring all to work would eliminate one of the tools used to earn good time credits.

Ensign and James said their goal was to increase the amount of restitution paid to victims.

Another provision that could be controversial, eliminating television with the exception of educational programming, may not leave enough to keep prisoners occupied, so a larger staff would be required, officials said.