The use of incarcerated individuals as a source of cheap labor for critical public services, while failing to provide adequate compensation or long-term support, mirrors historical patterns of systemic labor exploitation.

implications or the structural inequities it perpetuates.
Improved living conditions in fire camps should not be leveraged as a justification for the program but instead as an indictment of the general prison system's failure to meet basic standards of human dignity. +

of traditional prisons. By comparison, the camps may appear more "humane", but this comparison implicitly normalizes the unacceptable standards of the broader prison system. This creates a dangerous precedent where any marginal improvement can be positioned as a privilege, regardless of ethical+

While this may seem like a step forward, it is essential to contextualize these perceived benefits within the broader carceral system. The improved conditions in fire camps do not exist in isolation but rather in stark contrast to the overcrowded, under-resourced, and often inhumane environments+

One last thing I'd like to highlight related to the original thread: The idea that living conditions in fire camps are better compared to traditional prisons, (access to more open spaces, improved facilities, and the sense of contributing to critical public safety efforts), is not a good thing. +

and the positions available often do not match the level of risk and responsibility they shouldered during incarceration. This is a huge systemic issue in "reintegration" efforts. www.kqed.org/news/1202172...

Furthermore, we can address every aspect of carceral labor in this context. While there are pathways for formerly incarcerated firefighters to seek employment post-release, significant barriers remain. Despite training and experience, many face challenges due to their criminal records+

It's not our place to offer judgement on individual experiences of incarcerated people, rather point to a largely exploitative system. Prison labor is a multibillion-dollar industry, & one that dangerously uses the idea of rehabilitation+honorable work to justify wealth accumulation & paltry wages+

The allure of reduced sentences and the possibility of expungement may pressure inmates to undertake this dangerous work, raising ethical concerns about the true voluntariness of their involvement. www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2025... +

one's carceral outcomes are directly related to the volume & nature of the labor extracted from them. The limited opportunities and harsh conditions within the prison system can and have coerced inmates into participation. +

The program is described as voluntary, and many incarcerated individuals do indeed desire this form of "work" -- the individual you reference outlines many of the "benefits" associated. However, we are going a step further so as to question what "voluntary" really means in a system where+

For a 24-hour shift, an incarcerated firefighter earns approximately $26.90, equating to just over $1 per hour during emergencies.
www.knowyourrightscamp.org/post/califor... +

Incarcerated firefighters earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, with an additional $1 per hour during active emergencies. While this may seem beneficial, it's important to note that these wages are significantly below California's minimum wage of $16.50 per hour.+

unjust and exploitative penal labor system. We are well-aware that firefighting is seen as coveted work in California prisons. I cannot over-emphasize how important it is to frame this in the context of the conditions that are set in indentured servitude. +

This individual offers an important perspective to the conversation, as all who have lived experience within the carceral system do. There is one thing that is important to note: when we say the reality of choice in carceral labor is skewed, we are discussing it in the context of the inherently+