Prison Furniture Manufacture Okayed by New Mexico Senate
Prison Furniture Manufacture Okayed by New Mexico Senate

Prison Furniture Manufacture Okayed by New Mexico SenateSANTA FE, NM - New Mexico prisons could manufacture furniture, selling articles for up to $300 to state-funded agencies, under a bill passed by the state senate. It would go into effect July 1, 2014 if the state house approves it.

As written, the bill intends cabinetry and casegoods manufactured in the prisons to be sale to state-funded agencies, including prisons, and other public bodies - including Native American organizations - an effort to minimize the impact on commercial woodworking. It would be produced under the existing New Mexico Corrections Industries.

But an analysis by the state's Economic Development Department says the sales of prison furniture to the public could impact commercial wood manufacturing businesses, an issue in federal prison industries as well. Most states heve a prison manufacturing industry, acccording to the Correctional Industries Association,  and wood products manufacturer is frequently carried on as a form of job training.

Enforcement clauses in the bill to curtail unauthorized sales list violations as a misdemeanor and carry a $1,000 fine. Prison manufactured goods would also be clearly labeled.

"Every product manufactured pursuant to the provisions of the Corrections Industries Act shall be distinctively identified as inmate-made by brand, label or mark consistent with the type and character of the product," the Senate Bill 182 reads.

While furniture made under program would be intended for sales to government bodies, the bill allows for sales to the general public twice a year. An economic impact statement from the states Economic Development Department note there is a surplus of prison industry goods: 

CID has a surplus of products originally sold to other state agencies and local public bodies which have been returned for various reasons. Under current law, CID cannot sell these or any products directly to the public, and in many cases the returned products are not suitable or desirable to other state agencies or public bodies.

Allowing CID to sell these smaller-value products directly to the public will enable the division to reduce its large inventory. CID will avoid competing with local private vendors by limiting sales to only twice a year and limiting the value of the products sold to $300 or less.

The bill will allow the program to further enhance the rehabilitation, education and vocational skills of inmates. EDD stated that the public sector may be in competition with existing private sector companies involved in similar manufacturing.

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