Prisoners’ Pay and Options for Work

by Hadassa Noorda

The Netherlands recently shifted to a ‘voluntary’ work scheme for prisoners. I argue that although work in Dutch prisons is, to some extent, voluntary, the legal status of captive workers is far removed from that of regular employees, and this raises profound questions about their rehabilitation. Based on the principle that prisoners ought to retain their basic rights, except for the loss of liberty, I propose changes to the Dutch approach to prison labor.