Prison Economy | National Geographic

Out of prison, it's candy. In prison, it's a ticket to black market survival.
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Prison Economy | National Geographic
• Prison Economy | Natio...
National Geographic
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[@6669990]

"hey bro gimmie a pack of cigs" "you got 25 honey-buns?"

[@generaldeathmaster9295]

Nah but I got 15 packs of ramen

[@godisnotdead6230]

@@generaldeathmaster9295 😆

[@isaacg4511]

I got like 26 rice

[@johndallis9901]

@@isaacg4511 ye ye shut up

[@mhia4]

I'm not a "soft on crime" kind of guy, but damn, what a way to live. That a candy bar makes your whole week.

[@saltyman7888]

still a better economy than venezuela

[@christianhemingway2807]

Estupido

[@alejandroguzman5349]

2 years later and your comment is correct.

[@christianhemingway2807]

@@alejandroguzman5349 lol, getting better tho

[@adambussert6298]

Christian Hemingway prison or Venezuela?

[@YourBigHomieDancingBear]

The national currency of Venezuela is RuneScape GP

[@lashawnablanton4649]

Bartering can NEVER be stopped even if we go into a cashless society

[@jt4369]

I'm a California lawyer. A former client of mine described to me what he learned about the prison economy during his time on the inside. He described the most sought out after fresh fruits over all of those available were oranges as these were the best suited (again, of those available) for making a prison style alcohol. He personally benefited because he didn't drink; and he would get loads of bananas for his oranges since the exchange rate was so skewed. Academically speaking, it would be a huge opportunity the the arbitrageur. Funny how prison makes you appreciate the goings on of economics.

[@Amin_2k]

Very interesting story, thanks for sharing!

[@runeplate123]

It’s called surviving in jail you gotta anything and everything to stay afloat

[@Element27]

"Honey buns and candy...has a darker side" *sighs* these script writers.

[@nTrubl3]

Element27 😭😂😂

[@Hellsconsort]

I remember in high school buying and selling dinner tokens. That was awesome micro/kid economy.

[@jennvalenzuela5819]

Dinner token?!???

[@Lxcifer420]

Hellsconsort same bro

[@andrewlevino]

A) Having a store boosts morale which leads to less retaliation B) If there was no "store" to barter with the inmates would use alternate sources of money

[@Businessaccount312]

looll this makes me wanna fill up my drawers full of chocolates and honey buns for some reason, i watch this video almost all the time

[@abrahamrivera1991]

😂😂😂😂

[@vostrovostro8824]

You subliminally want to be in prison.

[@nekozombie]

@@vostrovostro8824 I don't think so. I wouldn't want to be in prison but this aspect of it freaking FASCINATES me :O

[@fatjasper8932]

“The highlight of their day” “store day” which is like once a month. Yes I’ve been inside and yes some of the corrections officers are just as dull minded as some of the cross eyed inmates....

[@UhmActually.]

how long have u been there?

[@HalfKaztBoy]

I'm sure the incarcerated drug dealers already have plenty of experiences in trade.

[@jfqd445]

*Gets sent to prison* “Hey mom, can you go to the grocery store and get as many honey buns and cigarettes the store has and send them to me? Thanks”

[@lifeafterheroin1365]

You wish....you wouldn't be allowed to have it

[@theroyalcapra]

Any items purchased are bought through the commissary kiosk located inside the prison. You cannot actually go to the grocery store and then have them sent in period that is contraband. As contraband. Contraband is anything that comes from the outside and it's not bought through the commissary app on the computer inside the prison.

[@raddestdoctor]

damn that greeting card looks better than hallmark

[@ru429]

Actually ever since 1797, when Newgate Prison was opened in New York, the goal of prisons have been to reform the prisoners. It is difficult to reform anyone in a situation with prison overcrowding and crook COs. The thing is a lot of prisoners have come from misery and have learned to break the law education changes people, having someone give them a chance for once changes them.

[@nilesriver2]

A side most often not seen is that the same companies that sell food to inmates is the same company that creates their meals. And no matter how you feel about criminals thats the sort of conflict of interest should be criminal in itself. Serve less food so that they buy more. Now the family sending $ becomes the victim

[@FlamesOverLord]

"I'll see your honeybun, and raise you a goodbar"

[@hootiepaladin]

Where's the documentary? YT link anyone please?

[@kickouttheyuppies]

looks actually quite an interesting episode. looking at how an illegal/legal economy with out money exists in a modern world all be it enclosed.

[@LeftoverJedi]

@Benuck039 Thank you, that actually is interesting. What are some other items used as prison currency that most people might not know about?

[@ErikSchneider1975USA]

Prison inmates doing what they can to survive and in a sense even learning about economics. And how to make money legitimately through trading.

[@SpinningbacKFisT]

Those strawberry cremes really hit the spot

[@1XMarksSpot]

@sureu2 I see. Thanks.

[@covarrubias93]

The greeting card was actually pretty nice

[@Coolguy125ful]

Does anyone know what episode this clip comes from?

[@chris7285]

I invested in Chocolate coin back in 2008 and made a couple of trades and now I’m rich in prison. Price of Doritos has dropped significantly so I just buy Doritos and Ramen. It affords me a nice bunk on cell block G where all the rich inmates stay.

[@Moonmanwalker]

Where can i see the whole video to this ?

[@randy109]

Something about the words "Prison" and "honey buns" in the same sentence makes me nervous...

[@DougglesMagnificent]

always trips me out that the narrator is thurston moore of sonic youth. compare how he sounds now to how he did on "providence" or anything spoken from that era.

[@jennvalenzuela5819]

No way!

[@pendejo6466]

Why can't they buy coffee? Even the instant kind?

[@heyok5877]

Caffeine is a mine altering substance

[@fiftycalcoulton]

In a lot of prisons and jails you actually can

[@rwcardtricks3949]

They can buy instant coffee just not the ground coffee

[@LeftoverJedi]

@1XMarksSpot Yeah, I was watching Lockdown and the guards were discussing street value vs prison value of goods. I could'nt believe it either.

[@Ccolebrooked]

Man I love humans

[@LeftoverJedi]

@1XMarksSpot I heard that they go for $40 each!

[@MrNoSleepOSRS]

Yusss

[@rrefs]

i thought tattoos were done with pens in prison lol

[@barbarabell2011]

I remember those days, waiting for canteen or commissary. Now it's college texts that I am trying to hustle because I do not want to pay full price. Be there don't plan on ever returning again.

[@litoak47]

=Yo i will give you two honey buns for your kit kat =Hell no, momma aint raise no fool.

[@pineappleapplepens]

watch there be a great depression in prison.

[@bojan5695852]

@TheHolyMolyPoly true

[@Seldanas]

This is in fact a wery good economic system. Pepole trade things in what they need or they sell it for money and other things.

[@Sabricent]

The state doesn't pay for that stuff. Either the family sends money, or they earn it from working. Which usuallys pays in Cents by the hour.

[@ninerrush87]

I'm not trading in no snacks ima eat them joints lol

[@MattyIcecubes]

I used to be the kitchen supervisor of a medium security prison. Had a few guys on my staff I'd do a little trading of harmless items with. For example, I'd get these little handheld game consoles from Wish that had like 30 classic NES and SNES games built in them. They sucked, but they worked for a little while. I'd get them for $15 each and sell them to my trusted guys for $100 each. God only knows what they sold them for, probably $300-500

[@ericambrosecoon]

wow that's kinda cool. strange world.

[@wisdometernal]

Thats a good point. They would have to use alternative methods. But this isn't a solution or even a pacification of the problem either so I guess what Im getting at is a better way is needed because this cannot be considered successful; and the returnee rate proves that.

[@dirtylittlefeet]

That made me laugh.

[@thegamesource]

@azbrc1984 haha! I saw that on the onion news!

[@chriscrisis]

my bro did time there lol and half the time he was high.they hide weed by the fence.and jackson is no longer even letting ciggs in

[@LocoGroove]

@azbrc1984 Haha onion reference. love it

[@chriscrisis]

@murphyhurtme oh ouch how bad i must feel that some govt. suck up corrected me.

[@andrewBsoweird]

wait how do they make the cigarettes?

[@mcval10]

dang ol honey bun goes for two racks!

[@1XMarksSpot]

@Benuck039 Why are stamps so valuable in prison?

[@andrewlevino]

The fact that there is a store has zero correlation on whether people return to jail or not... some people are just pathological offenders

[@iPWNNAGEE]

LOL honeybuns? xD

[@mavis41558]

I made some mistakes and got punished for them...... I am sure that you have been instilled with a good solid sense of right from wrong - just go with that. I'm also a tad bitter because folks right in my town who made the same mistakes were only punished with community service hours - BUT - they could afford better lawyers than I could.

[@SammyxSweetheart.02]

(March 25, 2023)0:54

[@asimplewasteman]

@Aggiesgigem im talking about prisoners who have raped and murdered , taken away and ruined more lives than their own. Why should they be allowed any luxurys? I'm sure the victims parents don't sleep at night and yet some prisoners still have the audacity to complain about sleeping arrangements...

[@tatomuck18]

what do you mean by "stanky ass weed"?

[@LeftoverJedi]

@randy109 as it should randy, as it should.

[@lullaby8830]

Muscle

[@wisdometernal]

Exactly. I say no STORE. The opening of the vid said the powers that be can't keep tabs on the black market dealings...But they KNOW thet store products fund it. So GET RID OF THE STORE... But, as you said, too many bleeding hearts that believe prison should be reasonably comfortable. They should see some foreign prisons, compare the return rates and swallow some reality as to why they're DRAMATICALLY lower.

[@magicster123]

lol OMG IM OUT OF REESE!!!

[@smokedout7129]

Don't see what's wrong with trading stuff for favors. We used to do that before money was a thing.

[@source3lerg]

who ate my honey bun?!

[@ThakorFilms]

business in prison is the last thing we needed... lol

[@sureu2]

@1XMarksSpot Only connection to the outside world for those whose families wont accept or can't afford collect calls or visits. Plus they are small and easy to hide and trade.

[@BinkieMcFartnuggets]

If they ever imprison Willy Wonka for illegally enslaving Oompa Loompas, he would probably have that whole prison eating out of his ass in no time.

[@MrDubEdition]

What is this, the Little Leagues? I used to trade snacks too, in elementary school.

[@spitfirelast8761]

Comfort in prison cells. Haha!

[@briannotafan3368]

weld the doors sut and all guards go on summer vacation

[@1XMarksSpot]

@LeftoverJedi LOL Seriously? Damn!

[@schwartzy2600]

except for the cigerettes its exactly wat my elementary school did wen i was there

[@blingbam404]

I hope i never go to prison

[@funguywoo]

that isnt the point, its not to eat its a currency.

[@flagship21]

This could be currency if the US dollar loses value

[@CalvinDWalker]

well, they make the laws :P

[@Mr.paint123]

No sugar No cream

[@jennvalenzuela5819]

Creamy sweet boys.

[@averagefreedomenjoyer3427]

Another ancient video

[@gavers029]

i would kill for a bag of chips...lol

[@SpinningbacKFisT]

Poor guy. I hope you got your chips.

[@DJRobDG]

@Miyabiii Cause it's their "right". As a prisoner they shouldnt have those rights. They have most taken away anyways

[@TROLLIRL]

@azbrc1984 Wow. Liked it the first time the Onion did it

[@asierra1492]

LOL

[@MediocreGenius]

they're still people. listen to the video. it's the one comfort they have.

[@gleibert]

u do work in there.. just not everyone tho

[@BinkieMcFartnuggets]

When the prison economy is experiencing a recession all they have to do is throw caramel and nougat at the problem. If only the outside world was more like prison...

[@maurijr10]

Expansive confectionery policy

[@souljaboy9062]

If u do it puts them out of business employee's are force to say and do things they do not want to

[@Jaypix08]

haha i got half my arm and half and half my back tatooed for 10 ciggaretes and a packet of toffee pops

[@meamverysmart]

Sure we need to be hard on them. But they are still human beings. Look at some of the jails, I would never want to go there, but you don't want to make it as bad as possible.

[@LURKSS]

that doesnt look to bad, honey buns and candy...lets rob some bankss

[@GaryLeeProduction]

haha if i had a choice this is whered i go

[@bondservant4Him]

@ToonMachine LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@MeanGreenLuigi]

Hmm cook the chicken to get rid of the germs and you sir got a deal!

[@ericambrosecoon]

store day is the highlight of their day? what the fuck does that mean?

[@Triathe]

depressing

[@YouDoobed]

Lots of innocent people end up in prison these days. It's more about slavery than justice.

[@Aventon500wheelie]

Better than a bitcoin!!! You can have this stuff without power!!!

[@ru429]

Well its supposed to be.

[@GregoryBrandt1979]

Response Video "My 4 Months in Jail" is da shat.

[@tatomuck18]

how are cigarettes like crack in prison? Does cigarettes get you high?

[@MeanGreenLuigi]

This is actually a good idea!! Lets trash the dollar bill and go back to trading like the old days!