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Federal Prison Industries

February 15, 2024

Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (FPI), doing business as UNICOR (stylized as unicor) since 1977, is a wholly owned United States government corporation created in 1934 as a prison labor program for inmates within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and a component of the Department of Justice. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Federal Prison Industries, Inc.
UNICOR
FoundedJune 23, 1934; 89 years ago (1934-06-23)[1]
Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
,
U.S.
Key people
David D. Spears, Chairman
Donald R. Elliott, Vice Chairman[2]
Revenue$531,453,000 (2019)
$61,166,000[3] (2019)
OwnerFederal Bureau of Prisons
Number of employees
10,896 (2016)
Websitewww.unicor.gov

Under US federal law, all physically abled inmates who are not a security risk or have a health exception are required to work, either for UNICOR or at some other prison job.[4][5] As of 2021, inmates earned between $0.23 to $1.15 per hour.[6]

As a "mandatory source" for federal departments (having priority over all other sources, including JWOD sources from blind or severely disabled persons), FPI receives priority in any purchases of the products that it offers.[7]

History edit

A statute in May 1930 provided for the employment of prisoners,[8] the creation of a corporation for the purpose was authorized by a statute in June 1934,[9] and the Federal Prison Industries was created by executive order in December 1934 by Franklin D. Roosevelt.[10]

Activities edit

Under current law, all physically able inmates who are not a security risk or have a health exception are required to work, either for UNICOR or at some other prison job.[4][5] Inmates earn from US$0.23 per hour up to a maximum of US$1.15 per hour,[6] and all inmates with court-ordered financial obligations must use at least 50% of this UNICOR income to satisfy those debts.[4]

Deductions are then taken for taxes, victim restitution, program costs and court-imposed legal obligations.[4] In fiscal year 2016, FPI's business were organized, managed, and internally reported as six operation segments based upon products and services. These segments are Agribusiness, Clothing and Textiles, Electronics, Office Furniture, Recycling, and Services.

 
Prison labor in a UNICOR program producing uniforms.

UNICOR currently produces the Interceptor body armor vest, primarily for foreign sales and international customers.[11][12][13]

Criticism edit

One report[14] detailed an FPI operation at a California prison in which inmates de-manufactured computer cathode-type monitors. Industry standard practice for this mandates a mechanical crushing machine to minimize danger from flying glass, with an isolated air system to avoid releasing lead, barium, and phosphor compounds to the workplace atmosphere. At the FPI facility prisoners de-manufactured CRTs with hammers. FPI initiated corrective action to address this finding, and claims to currently meet or exceed industry standards in its recycling operations.[15]

Combat helmets produced by FPI at one factory were at the center of a US Department of Justice lawsuit and $3 million settlement paid by ArmorSource, the prime contractor. The U.S. Attorney's Offices declined to criminally prosecute or file any civil action against FPI staff.[16] The helmets were produced for ArmorSource between 2008 and 2009 and failed to meet standards.[17] The recall of both helmets cost FPI $19 million. With Defense Contract Management Agency audit staff, FPI identified opportunities to improve its Quality Management System in areas including improved management staff oversight, proper control of quality procedures, training, and implementation of corrective action. FPI implemented new procedures to address these areas.[18]

After the January 6 United States Capitol attack, multiple sources noted because FPI is a "mandatory source" for the federal government, it would receive priority when the federal government purchases products made by FPI such as office furniture to replace what was damaged in the protest.[19][7][20]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "UNICOR - FAQs: General". Unicor.gov. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  2. ^ "UNICOR - Board of Directors". Unicor.gov. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  3. ^ "FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INC. : Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Management Report" (PDF). Unicor.gov. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d Federal Prison Industries RL32380 (PDF), Congressional Research Service, July 13, 2007
  5. ^ a b Title XXIX, §2905 of the Crime Control Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-647) required that all offenders in federal prisons must work (the act permitted limitations to this rule on security and health-related grounds).
  6. ^ a b "BOP: UNICOR". www.bop.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  7. ^ a b Kim, Whizy. "White Supremacists Attacked The Capitol. Now, Prison Labor Will Clean Up The Mess". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  8. ^ Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 71–271, 46 Stat. 391, enacted May 27, 1930
  9. ^ Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 73–461, 48 Stat. 1211, enacted June 23, 1934
  10. ^ Executive Order 6917 of 11 December 1934
  11. ^ GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045-0015 To Unicor $42.5k". govtribe.com.
  12. ^ GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045 To Unicor $265.8m". govtribe.com.
  13. ^ Award of Interceptor OTVs federalcompass.com, 29-Sept-2008
  14. ^ (PDF). US Department of Justice. US Department of Justice. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  15. ^ (PDF). US Department of Justice. US Department of Justice. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  16. ^ "DEFENSE CONTRACTOR ARMORSOURCE LLC AGREES TO PAY $3 MILLION TO SETTLE FALSE CLAIMS ACT ALLEGATIONS, page 7" (PDF). US Department of Justice. US Department of Justice. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  17. ^ "Investigative Summary Findings of Fraud and Other Irregularities Related to the Manufacture and Sale of Combat Helmets by the Federal Prison Industries and ArmorSource, LLC, to the Department of Defense, page 2" (PDF). US Department of Justice. US Department of Justice. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  18. ^ Steele, Tom (30 August 2016). "Inmates at Texas prison produced faulty helmets for military, costing government $19M". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  19. ^ Valentine, Brittany (2021-01-11). "Prison labor is what will rebuild the U.S. Capitol after its siege". AL DÍA News. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  20. ^ "The Furniture Damaged in the Capitol Riot Will Almost Certainly Be Rebuilt By Incarcerated People For Pennies". Jezebel. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-23.

External links edit

  Media related to Federal Prison Industries at Wikimedia Commons

  • UNICOR Federal Prison Industries
  • Federal Prison Industries in the Federal Register

February 15, 2024
federal, prison, industries, this, article, contains, content, that, written, like, advertisement, please, help, improve, removing, promotional, content, inappropriate, external, links, adding, encyclopedic, content, written, from, neutral, point, view, april,. This article contains content that is written like an advertisement Please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view April 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Federal Prison Industries Inc FPI doing business as UNICOR stylized as unicor since 1977 is a wholly owned United States government corporation created in 1934 as a prison labor program for inmates within the Federal Bureau of Prisons and a component of the Department of Justice It is headquartered in Washington D C Federal Prison Industries Inc Trade nameUNICORFoundedJune 23 1934 89 years ago 1934 06 23 1 HeadquartersWashington D C U S Key peopleDavid D Spears ChairmanDonald R Elliott Vice Chairman 2 Revenue 531 453 000 2019 Net income 61 166 000 3 2019 OwnerFederal Bureau of PrisonsNumber of employees10 896 2016 Websitewww wbr unicor wbr govUnder US federal law all physically abled inmates who are not a security risk or have a health exception are required to work either for UNICOR or at some other prison job 4 5 As of 2021 inmates earned between 0 23 to 1 15 per hour 6 As a mandatory source for federal departments having priority over all other sources including JWOD sources from blind or severely disabled persons FPI receives priority in any purchases of the products that it offers 7 Contents 1 History 2 Activities 3 Criticism 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it March 2023 A statute in May 1930 provided for the employment of prisoners 8 the creation of a corporation for the purpose was authorized by a statute in June 1934 9 and the Federal Prison Industries was created by executive order in December 1934 by Franklin D Roosevelt 10 Activities editUnder current law all physically able inmates who are not a security risk or have a health exception are required to work either for UNICOR or at some other prison job 4 5 Inmates earn from US 0 23 per hour up to a maximum of US 1 15 per hour 6 and all inmates with court ordered financial obligations must use at least 50 of this UNICOR income to satisfy those debts 4 Deductions are then taken for taxes victim restitution program costs and court imposed legal obligations 4 In fiscal year 2016 FPI s business were organized managed and internally reported as six operation segments based upon products and services These segments are Agribusiness Clothing and Textiles Electronics Office Furniture Recycling and Services nbsp Prison labor in a UNICOR program producing uniforms UNICOR currently produces the Interceptor body armor vest primarily for foreign sales and international customers 11 12 13 Criticism editOne report 14 detailed an FPI operation at a California prison in which inmates de manufactured computer cathode type monitors Industry standard practice for this mandates a mechanical crushing machine to minimize danger from flying glass with an isolated air system to avoid releasing lead barium and phosphor compounds to the workplace atmosphere At the FPI facility prisoners de manufactured CRTs with hammers FPI initiated corrective action to address this finding and claims to currently meet or exceed industry standards in its recycling operations 15 Combat helmets produced by FPI at one factory were at the center of a US Department of Justice lawsuit and 3 million settlement paid by ArmorSource the prime contractor The U S Attorney s Offices declined to criminally prosecute or file any civil action against FPI staff 16 The helmets were produced for ArmorSource between 2008 and 2009 and failed to meet standards 17 The recall of both helmets cost FPI 19 million With Defense Contract Management Agency audit staff FPI identified opportunities to improve its Quality Management System in areas including improved management staff oversight proper control of quality procedures training and implementation of corrective action FPI implemented new procedures to address these areas 18 After the January 6 United States Capitol attack multiple sources noted because FPI is a mandatory source for the federal government it would receive priority when the federal government purchases products made by FPI such as office furniture to replace what was damaged in the protest 19 7 20 See also edit nbsp United States portal nbsp Politics portalPrison labour in the United States California Prison Industry Authority Chain gang Convict leasing Incarceration in the United States Labor camp Title 28 of the Code of Federal RegulationsReferences edit UNICOR FAQs General Unicor gov Retrieved 14 October 2017 UNICOR Board of Directors Unicor gov Retrieved 14 October 2017 FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES INC Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Management Report PDF Unicor gov Retrieved 30 January 2020 a b c d Federal Prison Industries RL32380 PDF Congressional Research Service July 13 2007 a b Title XXIX 2905 of the Crime Control Act of 1990 P L 101 647 required that all offenders in federal prisons must work the act permitted limitations to this rule on security and health related grounds a b BOP UNICOR www bop gov Retrieved 2021 03 31 a b Kim Whizy White Supremacists Attacked The Capitol Now Prison Labor Will Clean Up The Mess www refinery29 com Retrieved 2021 01 23 Pub L Tooltip Public Law United States 71 271 46 Stat 391 enacted May 27 1930 Pub L Tooltip Public Law United States 73 461 48 Stat 1211 enacted June 23 1934 Executive Order 6917 of 11 December 1934 GovTribe Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045 0015 To Unicor 42 5k govtribe com GovTribe Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045 To Unicor 265 8m govtribe com Award of Interceptor OTVs federalcompass com 29 Sept 2008 A Review of Federal Prison Industries Electronic Waste Recycling Program PDF US Department of Justice US Department of Justice Archived from the original PDF on 28 June 2016 Retrieved 22 September 2016 A Review of Federal Prison Industries Electronic Waste Recycling Program Attachments 4 and 5 pages 421 426 PDF US Department of Justice US Department of Justice Archived from the original PDF on 28 June 2016 Retrieved 22 September 2016 DEFENSE CONTRACTOR ARMORSOURCE LLC AGREES TO PAY 3 MILLION TO SETTLE FALSE CLAIMS ACT ALLEGATIONS page 7 PDF US Department of Justice US Department of Justice Retrieved 19 August 2016 Investigative Summary Findings of Fraud and Other Irregularities Related to the Manufacture and Sale of Combat Helmets by the Federal Prison Industries and ArmorSource LLC to the Department of Defense page 2 PDF US Department of Justice US Department of Justice Retrieved 19 August 2016 Steele Tom 30 August 2016 Inmates at Texas prison produced faulty helmets for military costing government 19M Dallas Morning News Retrieved 22 September 2016 Valentine Brittany 2021 01 11 Prison labor is what will rebuild the U S Capitol after its siege AL DIA News Retrieved 2021 01 23 The Furniture Damaged in the Capitol Riot Will Almost Certainly Be Rebuilt By Incarcerated People For Pennies Jezebel 8 January 2021 Retrieved 2021 01 23 External links edit nbsp Media related to Federal Prison Industries at Wikimedia Commons UNICOR Federal Prison Industries Federal Prison Industries in the Federal Register Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Federal Prison Industries amp oldid 1193209248, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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