36% of Republicans say prisoners with jobs should not be paid
Prisoners in 17 US states recently began what is expected to be a three-week prison strike, in order to call for better pay and working conditions. The average pay in state prisons is 20 cents an hour.
Nearly four in ten (37%) Americans agree that working prisoners should be paid more money, according to new data from YouGov Omnibus. Another 19% say the current wages are acceptable, and 22% say that incarcerated workers shouldn’t be paid at all.
Over half (51%) of Democrats say that prisoners with jobs should make more money. Only 17% of Republicans, and 36% of politically independent people agreed. More than one-third (36%) of Republicans said that prison workers shouldn’t be paid at all, while 30% in this group say that the current wages are acceptable.
Almost half (49%) of 25-34-year-olds say prisoners with jobs should make more money, making this the age group most likely to have this stance. A similar number (45%) of 18-24 year olds agreed, while only 30% of people 55 and up did.
Learn more about YouGov Omnibus.
Image: Getty
