Prison Labor: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

John Oliver explains how prisoners make and spend money, and how companies can profit at the expense of their families.

[@dlein93]

"The slaves have armed themselves--" "Ooh, I don't like that word!" "Sorry, the prisoners with jobs have armed themselves." "Ok, that's better!" -Thor: Ragnorak, 2017

[@nieznajomy4398]

wow didn't realise how brilliant this line was.

[@mirmalchik]

taika waititi is an international treasure

[@Gongasoso]

*Ragnarok

[@LongNguyen-ds4hf]

all i got from this was, "crime doesn't pay"

[@Trophonix]

I remember that! Laughed out loud.

[@Gorm169]

The worst part about the "crime doesn't pay" argument is that this system teaches inmates that honest work does not pay.

[@theRealRindberg]

Perfect comment!!!

[@raculpeper]

💯 agree great comment

[@whiteymcgee3597]

Well, the prisons should give them a bill for rent, electricity, water and food. Let them balance their checkbooks!

[@joheyjonsson2825]

@@whiteymcgee3597 They already do. In many places, you get an invoice when you leave prison, and if you can't pay, it's back in jail with you, where you incur more fees, that you have to pay once you're released, on top of your old fees.

[@memento81]

@@joheyjonsson2825 So basically slavery you have to buy yourself free from but in many cases just can't. Great system

[@nicememes7570]

"They're letting the good ones out" YEAH THAT WAS THE POINT

[@farhanhafiz1924]

Sounded like a slave owner upset his slaves are gone.

[@tilltronje1623]

@@farhanhafiz1924 yeah because it was

[@charlestoncooper5265]

@@farhanhafiz1924well that’s what it was

[@andrewsmith6274]

Lol

[@nanyubusnis9397]

"We can't have people who served time in prison and have learnt their lesson, work in emergency services, that's dangerous. But if you're still a prisoner learning your lesson, that's fine." Common sense, right? Makes sense.

[@spongeintheshoe]

It’s worth the risk for unpaid labor.

[@jennischulthies7439]

“Crime doesn’t pay.” ...unless you are a giant corporation who makes millions off of the privatized U.S. prison system.

[@ericmollison2760]

Reminds me of Johnny English where the villain was a prison tycoon. Cliche and silly at the time, but now it seems deep.

[@bobbymounts]

Majority of prisons are federally run or state run. Very few are actually private prisons smaller percentage than you think.

[@kristenkrueger5527]

Exactly!!!!

[@AndoresuPeresu]

@@bobbymounts doesn't matter. If it employs coerced labour plus any of those connection cutting corporate schemes it has fallen right in the the same place.

[@yessinegourar5691]

or freddie gibs

[@valkoharja]

The politician uncomfortable hearing about feminine hygiene products shouldn't be a public servant. That's not the reaction of a well adjusted adult.

[@roshanpatel4037]

@Jane Doe Nothing more than to wait 30 years and hope their progeny didn't inherit the same close-mindedness

[@creepystares9853]

well adjusted adults rarely run for office. and in a place like Arizona, there are fewer than the country norm, so the pool is quite small.

[@andreasschale4182]

Jane Doe o

[@amirs.3323]

@Jane Doe the upside is people like them are getting old and dying off. The population that thinks like that will never get to zero but it'll get much much smaller...

[@daveyhouston]

I personally love vaginas they are quite tasty and full of vitamins needed to start your day

[@88Ariadne88]

The problem of periods! In the third year of medical school, I (female) and three of my male colleagues lived in a house together while we were studying at a hospital in another city. When I got my period, I put my supplies on the back of the toilet--like every other woman in the country! One of the guys, a delegate for the other two, approached me, saying the sight of tampons (in a box) made them uncomfortable. I replied, "Oh! You guys must have missed the lecture on menstruation. I'll be happy to fill you in. Half of your patients are going to menstruate. You better get used to it."

[@tymera]

Real as fuck.

[@LarsaXL]

Really? They got uncomfortable that you put a reminder of bodily fluids on top of a fucking toilet? The hypocrisy aside, I don't think they have the stomach for doctor's work.

[@rosshoover6986]

That's "a" reason men are known as "dicks".

[@MarkoVukovic0]

Unbelievable. A med student being uncomfortable at the sight of a box of tampons. How he even made it to third year is beyond me.

[@Wolfencreek]

Yass Queen 😂

[@tjfm2456]

The “convict poker” shocks me every time I see it. It’s literally just the gladiator games in the colosseum all over again. Putting prisoners in life threatening situations for the general public’s amusement. The extent to which people dehumanize people in prison is nauseating.

[@SsnakeBite]

3:24 - To be fair, Fox News finds it hilarious when Millenials ask for minimum wage for a full-time job too.

[@aliceslab]

Lol being young shouldnt paid seems to be American way

[@Henrik46]

Minimum wage is by definition legally required. If someone doesn't get it, the company is breaking the law. The shouldn't complain, they should sue.

[@hepthegreat4005]

@@Henrik46 there actually are work arounds to that law, tipped work or internships. Some companies have "internships" that are just free labour (the difference is that a true internship should teach you something, but a lot just have you fill out excel sheets or fetch coffee)

[@hoopsiclemcgee4244]

@@Henrik46 You know most waiters make less than minimum wage right?

[@OmegaBladeAlpha]

@@hoopsiclemcgee4244 That's actually false. If they don't make enough tips to offset the lower base pay, then they are guaranteed the minimum wage.

[@q4moneyq247]

Is it just me or did, "Convict poker" look a lot like, throwing lions at Prisoners in front of a crowd at the Roman Colosseum?

[@Widdekuu91]

@Q4Money q Yeah, it reminded me of that too.

[@lunayen]

It's the modern version of it. Only this time no one gets eaten (just gored) and the "winner" doesn't get their freedom.

[@Carltoncurtis1]

America is Rome. Nothing new here. If it wasn't for those pesky SJWs we woulda seen some blood

[@jackjones4248]

The difference is, in Rome most of those condemned to the beasts had committed terrible crimes

[@JaegerDreadful]

@@jackjones4248 Idk man, not paying parking tickets is pretty horrid imo

[@williamgirard2412]

As an ex-con and actual ESL teacher, I appreciate your words. I was locked up for selling weed. 4 and a half years. And it was hell in my prisons. Yes, plural. I was in 5 different prisons. The first was Joliet before it was closed and turned into a museum an film site for Prison Break.

[@TheNinthGenerarion]

3:54 the most annoying part about the “crime doesn’t pay” argument is that inmates aren’t asking to be paid to sit in prison (being paid for your crimes), they’re asking to be paid what anyone else would be for the jobs they’re doing. They’re not asking to be paid for crime, they’re asking to be paid for labour.

[@SamuelKristopher]

I'll never get sick of John Oliver sticking it to business daddy AT&T

[@14gears55]

That might just be my favorite part of the show. As soon as he brings up anything to do with phones, coverage or customer service all I can think is ‘how’s he gonna work a diss of AT&T into this’

[@HeilRay]

How long till business daddy break out the leather belt?

[@shortstuff780]

Does AT T own HBO? Because I'm surprised they are okay work John shit talking them haha

[@niceguy2171]

But one has to wonder how long ATT(Business daddy) waits until John Oliver(business baby) is found with multiple old phones stuck up his ass.

[@jayanthavasarala]

@@shortstuff780 You were watching this video on your phone, correct? Because where you meant to type 'with', your phone's keyboard auto-corrected it to work haha

[@JanPospisilArt]

Hey, remember how the Romans used to throw prisoners into an arena with wild animals and how we considered that barbaric? Yeah?

[@alexanderreusens7633]

Death Race doesn't seem so far away now

[@Saitaina]

We still kill certain people and I have no problem killing those we can without doubt prove are guilty in the same manner most killed their victims. The wild beast would look tame in many cases.

[@trentarnold7226]

@@Saitaina oh wow, you must be a real badass

[@KSangel180]

I was thinking the same exact thing. I can't believe this is a thing let alone that it's making a comeback. SMH

[@nannyoggsally]

What the fuck does that even mean? Romans were brutal. It's 2000 years later, the enlightenment has happened, we have a declaration of human rights, and this is how human beings are still treated in America? It's not okay. Not fucking okay.

[@Sumguyinavan_]

Ever notice how frequently the guys who say things like "crime doesn't pay" are usually rich but later get caught committing felonies- particularly financial crimes?

[@dylandugan76]

"The current system of low wages and high costs is clearly no good for anyone but for the companies who are somehow managing to profit from this." Damn, John, you didn't have to point out that the entire country itself is a prison.

[@Sandra-lu3ri]

😢

[@aidanb9557]

Lmao that Cosby clip was just too much foreshadowing

[@Trapper64]

It probably started small, became bigger...

[@hansbass8119]

Directed by M. Night Shamaladingdong

[@benwillems8584]

I wonder if someone showed him that video after his judging

[@tajicbladeofthelegion5474]

@@hansbass8119 Shamalamadingdong*

[@postaled]

Search for the video: 'Bill Cosby's Special BBQ Sauce '

[@myathewolfeh1156]

America: *puts poor people in prison* Also America: *forces poor people to pay to get out of prison* America: Why do we have so many prisoners??

[@JanglesPrime999]

Unfortunately it a feature, not a bug. US focuses on punishment, not reform. Just ask Kamala Harris.

[@Broockle]

Also America: Puts way more black people into jail. Ergo, cheap black slavery, just like the good ol' days.

[@theowohrmann6765]

Sounds more like monopoly then an actual country

[@karsten69]

@@Broockle That is essentially what they are going for.

[@burninghard]

It never was the goal to have less prisoners but rather the opposite.

[@scottbrown8749]

I actually work as a correctional officer in Alabama. What he is saying is entirely true except he missed a couple things like if you don’t do the job you applied to or given it can actually affect you getting out on time or make your parole be declined. And it can even get you in trouble or hurt by other inmates.

[@tymera]

Holy shit man

[@redjed100]

He only has so much information to give while working jokes in.

[@angelstar260]

Anyone else binge watching last week tonight and just marveling at the amazing in detail journalism John and his team provide weekly

[@artemiswolf4508]

“Inmate Rodeos”? That’s just a Roman coliseum with extra steps

[@bsdnmd]

we need to find a way to gamble on that.

[@ZeissReich]

Oh geez Rick

[@josephw2905]

My friend's brother is in Angola. He rides in the rodeo and has done the convict poker. It's all 100% voluntary. He absolutely loves it and gives him something to live for.

[@LordRavensong]

@@josephw2905 that's one guy. John gave you one other guy who did because he needed a PI because he feels the Justice system has failed him.

[@Hero_of_Legend]

As an avid fan of rodeos, I approve.

[@Leto_0]

PRISON should not be a BUSINESS. Neither should any aspect of criminal justice.

[@silvia211171]

That principle can be also applied to Health...

[@LunaDevaKitty]

That's what capitalism will do to your country. Unite with your fellow worker and crush it under the might of the people.

[@ryanbranigan231]

Welcome to America, where if its profitable, we'll find the legislation to make it allowed!

[@justalostlocal]

@@LunaDevaKitty *uncontrolled Capitalism That's why we need socialism and too many people think socialism = communism and that's objectively false.

[@LunaDevaKitty]

@@justalostlocal Do not aim for second best. Unfettered capitalism is worse than capitalism with a collar, but we should work to abolish the tyranny of the capitalists entirely. Socialists are anti-capitalist.

[@Rand_al_Thor372]

The two mandatory phrases in every episode: 1.- "HOLY SHIT!!!" 2.- "YEAH...yes it is!!"

[@Amarand]

“Dodge bull” didn’t get enough of a laugh. 😹

[@ianfgranger]

Saying “crime doesn’t pay” is disingenuous at best. The multi-billion dollar private prison industry is your proof that is does indeed “pay” just not the “criminals”.

[@YouCanNotVoteOutFascism]

In that respect, crime pays extremely well.

[@madisonschmid2010]

True. Certain crimes don't pay. But if you start a fake company, sell shares of fake company's stock, pump up the price then sell all your shares before distributing the proceeds b/n offshore accounts and anonymous crypto currencies... THEN spend 5 years on house arrest, wait... and start spending the millions you stashed, THEN... crime does pay. Just don't do something really illegal like selling 1 oz of marijuana.

[@ameliecarre4783]

Also they're not asking for crime to pay. They're asking for real honest useful work to pay.

[@taylorlibby7642]

Those for whom crime is profitable very rarely suffer the indignities of incarceration. If you want to stesl, rob a bank. If you want to steal BIG and get a medal for it, own a bank.

[@petergonzalez1719]

Please watch and sign our petition. Time to get the gears going! We got this! kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6KWiaWdhdiMqaM

[@FOXDUDETV]

This is why you don't privatize the incarceration system.

[@FlorenceFox]

I'm amazed that anyone can hear the words "for-profit prison" and not instantly recoil from the very concept in raw, visceral disgust.

[@yanimar89]

Privatization of any systems that people can't opt out of will inevitably lead to corruption mad explotation. It is amazing how corrupt a country america is

[@couragekarnga8735]

I hate the word prison. We're putting people in cages like animals and calling it correction! Is there not a better way to do things, especially with nonviolent criminals?

[@DaDunge]

You can have private prisons if the prisoner gets to decide what prison he goes to. Or at the very least his heard in some capacity as to what prisons he don't want to be held at.

[@alexfischer2527]

@@couragekarnga8735 fredik dunge is right. Check out the Michael Moore documentary "where to invade next". He does a really good, informative piece on Norwegian Prisons and compares them to American ones.

[@allrightspreserved4766]

Slavery was never abolished, it was just moved to the prison system.

[@merissaj4518]

I need to know how John and his staff don't go insane when researching these injustices. Even with the "What can we do?" portion, I still end up curled up in the corner weeping. Also, I work in HR and have a favourite mug (the one that holds the most coffee) so I feel personally called out by Zazu here.

[@alfashark2463]

The guy that said he didnt expect to hear pads and tampons sounds like a 9 year old going in the wrong sex ed class 🤣

[@agiraffe3673]

AlFaShArK 246 he did look shell shocked, didn’t he...

[@TheElchzuechter]

That's literally the funniest thing I heard today

[@thomasridley8675]

What do expect from a guy who still thinks this is the 1700's.

[@superschmolz]

I'm almost embarrassed for the guy. Not only does come off as emotionally stunted, but also as incompetent and unprepared for his job.

[@asingh4152]

He is probably still a virgin

[@worf7271]

Whenever I watch John Oliver I don't know if I should be laughing or crying.

[@Oney105]

Depends on what hes talking about

[@jhiadinalurose1781]

Both

[@Oney105]

Jhiadin Alurose tbh id also be feeling both

[@kingwashington4044]

Yo you didn't even finish the video

[@dennisloose5414]

I always ask myself why "Land of the free" #250

[@Laocoon283]

"Crime doesn't pay" No... but work does and they are working not criming.

[@keeftbeef]

A scheme elsewhere goes like this. You get put into a work placement. It pays at least minimum wage. 1/3 goes to victim support. 1/3 gets saved for their release to get on their feet. The rest goes to their commisary fund. If they prove themselves, there's a job for them on release.

[@tklemenc]

Crime doesn't pay, unless you're a big business who gets a slap-on-the-wrist fine for misdeeds.

[@CoachRiRiPFWG]

Or Epstein who gets to use prison as a cheap hotel. While he's allowed to go out and run his businesses. Like selling access to young women for sex.

[@darkninjafirefox]

Or bailed out by the federal government when you go bankrupt

[@Oozes_Dark]

Preach

[@porlarazonoporlafuerza6424]

Capitalism

[@TheAlhouk57]

@@porlarazonoporlafuerza6424 has brought more people out of poverty than any other system.

[@xocaitlinnpattz]

As a woman whose husband is incarcerated, thank you very much for exposing the harsh reality and injustice of prison labor and the cost of being in prison to those on the inside and their loved ones. Hopefully we can make real changes soon in this system. It isn’t a fight about why someone is in prison, it’s about actually making change. Who do you want to live next to you? The one treated so unfairly that they become more unequipped to deal with life when they are coming home that they have no choice but to be warped to do worse? I live in CT and our phone call rates are the worst in the country next to Arkansas. Insane.

[@Snackery24]

Caitlin Bodamer wow an actually helpful and intelligent comment. Thank you. I hope we can make better laws that help situations like yours for you and your husband.

[@unseeliesidhegoddess]

I hope things get better for you and your family, and I hope your husband is free soon. I firmly believe it's the prison system itself that does the most harm to most inmates, who are generally *nonviolent* people who either made a stupid mistake (who doesn't?) or who had the deck stacked against them to begin with and turned to crime for survival. Having a loving and supportive family is instrumental in ensuring future success for people in the prison system. He's lucky to have you and you are so strong.

[@Saternalia]

Why are we ignoring that "why" question though? If theyre in for minor drug offences fine. If they're in because the raped and murdered someone, why are we pretending we should be having the same conversation?

[@xocaitlinnpattz]

sal 6942013 and all other cool numbers oh don’t worry, I have an amazing caring husband and a wonderful marriage.

[@xocaitlinnpattz]

Stephen Harris even if you were to exclude that part of the prison population, which is not a large portion, you still have many people who are subjected to this with non-serious offenses. People focus on who is in and why they are in when we need to be focusing on fixing things. If you want to exclude certain populations in the legislation, fine. But something still needs to be done.

[@robertmorrisey7140]

The Cosby opening was Spot On! 😂😅 Loved It!

[@DannyHeywood]

As a guy from the UK, this is how I see the US court system: - A poor black person has a broken light on his car. - He is sent a fine of $100 he cannot afford - He is sent to jail for not paying - He cannot afford $250 for bail = FREE/CHEAP LABOUR - Repeat a few million times.

[@justanotherweirdhumanbeing6862]

Well, that just sounds like slavery with extra steps

[@georgebrantley776]

@Willa Bukata I don't get why that's an issue though? A person commits a crime, the person must pay for damages. I never really understood the whole point of locking people up just to lock them up. What purpose does that serve? Primarily prison should be to remove a public danger. Secondarily it should be to force the person to work to pay off damages caused. Only tertiarily should it be to lock the person up for the sake of punishment. But America does #1, and in the process of doing #1 seems to really love #3. America doesn't seem to care at all about #2. Why?

[@smilesnluvd6526]

@@georgebrantley776 Financial requirements are sometimes part of a criminal ruling. More often, they happen civilly. (Think O.J Simpson - won the criminal case, lost the civil case.) To go a little further in answering your question, the vast majority of these jobs do not do anything for a community, they simply help the prison owner get more money.

[@mattiocremapping5485]

Wow rick and morty reference

[@thegrayyernaut]

@@georgebrantley776 Many slaves back in the day were people who committed crimes, too, friend.

[@georgebrantley776]

@@thegrayyernaut If by slave, you mean forced to work without pay, under suboptimal but not inhumane conditions, and given food and shelter for the period of the slavery, then yeah, I think that is quite fair. Slavery should last until costs incurred have been paid off, at which point the tab has been cleared and the criminal may reintegrate back into society. Essentially I am suggesting that locking someone up does not really do anything to provide compensation to the victim. It only penalizes the criminal. So we should use labor instead of just jail time as a way to act as both penalty and compensation.

[@Vincent-mv6ux]

I've heard that the prison system in the US was broken, but now I'm convinced it's totally fked.

[@seelcudoom1]

its not broken if its designed that way

[@fcentauri8]

@@seelcudoom1 definitely a sadistic system

[@zinaj9437]

Think "us and them" and how "they" deserve to be treated like this and "don't do the crime if you can't do the time" comments. Great...if you assume you'll never get rolled into this and that the justice system is "fair." The more you know, like watching videos of police encounters with minorities...

[@koboldcatgirl]

No, our prisons are literally turning into company towns.

[@chandlerwright5460]

It’s also designed so that even if a prisoner learns a trade, chances are high nobody will hire them because they are ex-cons and don’t deserve a second chance

[@Psara]

“and now, they’re in prison.” -Bill Cosby “Yes, they are!!” -John Oliver in 2019 “No, they’re not.” -2021

[@blackmantis3130]

Lol

[@largebiff1743]

Listening to him, John has a lot of George Carlin in him. Comedy about serious subjects. That's a high compliment, John.

[@SuperHansburger93]

"crime doesn't pay" What about work? Does work pay? I'm pretty sure work is supposed to pay...

[@aliceslab]

Right no one is asking for them to be paid according to their crime

[@HeilRay]

That should of been someone there sayin* that while they sit there sweating speechless

[@jeffreycollins5428]

From my experience work doesn't really pay either

[@fluidxd5476]

@@jeffreycollins5428 this is too real

[@ToboeOkamiKiba]

This implies that the work that the prison is forcing the prisoners to do is actually a crime and that they should not be paid for it. That's what that means. They're forcing the prisoners to commit crimes by being underpaid or unpaid labor.

[@yuirick]

"Crime doesn't pay" Last I checked, working isn't a crime.

[@genkara]

Not paying employees minimum wage, on the other hand, is a crime

[@Mictla155]

Gotta love politicians saying that.

[@Chunkboi]

But crime does pay, just look at what President 💩 has done before and after his 2017 inauguration.

[@SimonHomeintheEarth]

Except that their work is mostly doing their laundry, cooking their meals and cleaning their home... They are providing services to their fellow inmates. John makes it sound like the rest of us are benefiting from their slave labor, but the labor is mostly just to look after themselves. I am all for paying them a minimum wage, but then should we be charging them for the rent, laundry services, food, etc. prepared by the other inmates? Lets make it a real economy?

[@MikeKeller]

@@SimonHomeintheEarth some of the prisoners are not working, though, because working is actually a privilege. So the guys who work in the laundry or the kitchen are taking care of themselves and their fellow inmates. Plus, as you saw in the video, sometimes prisoners are used to do work for the actual prison, like maintaining cars, or maintaining the yards, and occasionally as road crews. I'm not in favor of paying them minimum wage (because their room and board is free to them), but I am in favor of paying them a decent wage so they can afford the shit like phone calls and tampons and other necessities. Their punishment is supposed to be their incarceration, not slave labor.

[@mob8451]

That's incredible. Who on earth thinks that such a system is either humane or at least good for society? This is a lose - lose situation.

[@metaforth1271]

That intro didn't age well

[@Jimmy4video]

That warden complaining about losing "good ones" - WTF! Prisoners are not your property!

[@brianarmstrong2482]

To me that was possibly the most disgusting part of the entire episode

[@quietreason8679]

"We can't let those good people out into society! Who will do our free labor then??"

[@chickensangwich97]

Virginia law enforcement? Defending a political economy based on enslaving a given social group, then dehumanizing them to wipe away the guilt? Why, I never!!

[@johnj3636]

Max Moran John could do a whole episode on Virginia law endorsement though it would be less funny and more legitimately terrifying

[@jgpenniesworth442]

Yes they are, in uis eyes.

[@Sonder9Corran]

"The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons." - Fyodor Dostoyevsky I'm totaly agree with him.

[@pistolpete8376]

like bathrooms in a restaurant

[@chingatu6644]

So I guess we aren't doing very bad then seeing as the US is one of the best countries to live in

[@dsmith3614]

chinga tu reread the comment, and try again.

[@disillusioneddedication4625]

chinga tu you are absolutely right. Dont Lisen to the communist quote of some Russian. USA is the greatest country ever. Jus look at the obesity rate, their flawless gun safety, astonishing health care and amazing treatment of the pore the wealthy are profiting off. USA USA USA!!!!

[@weareallbornmad410]

@@chingatu6644 Did you even read the quote you are responding to? Read it again.

[@shaunaellis6619]

The prisons in Utah have catalogs loaded with stuff sold by the state. They claimed you cant send a prisoner a book unless its ordered from this high priced cataloging where the proceeds go to the warden and cops working in the prison. My son was sent to prison. They had him working cutting trees. The money he made was paid to Aflec insurance company so that in the event he was hurt or killed the state got the money.

[@sachadee.6104]

u n b e l i e v a b l e. As a European I can't wrap my head around these mis treatments. ESPECIALLY knowing it happens in a free western country. Extortion.

[@juliakilmister8156]

Can we talk about how the “problems of periods” guy is really the villain from the Princess Diaries 2 !?!

[@sikckaputten]

"For-profit prison system" are words that should never be used together.

[@adelepattonxxx]

Thank you for your comment 🙏 Fucking brilliant and soooo simple 👏

[@rmnstr604]

Crime doesn't pay, and so it shoudn't. But inmates doin a proper job should be paid. Fighting fires aint a crime. There is only one country in the world where companies make huge profits on inmates, ironically it is the country that calls itself the land of the free.

[@larsen1298]

land of the Free to take advantage of its people.

[@superscaredcorncutt1202]

But would you be willing to accept the larger taxes because YOU would are the one paying them now and paying them more would raise YOUR taxes

[@andmos1001]

Rmnstr Here in Norway, we have prisons with free monitored WiFi for prisoners. We also allow them to keep working in their jobs while serving their sentence if the work can be done by internet calls and documents, with full pay which will be payed with interest after you left the prison.

[@Krackerlack]

land of the free labor

[@magicsantos2681]

YEP SO TRUE! WHAT A BIG DISGRACE AND SHAME FOR THE U.S!

[@mono4on]

I didnt think I could get even more disgusted with the criminal justice system. thnx to this show ive learned a lot of disgusting truths, keep up the good work

[@dioateo1999]

Glad he mentioned the amendment that includes the reasoning. Prisoners lost their freedom for a reason, and gave up many of their constitutional rights. They don't deserve to not work, nor do they deserve minimum wage. That being said, they absolutely DO NOT deserve some of the abuses they are forced to endure. One doesn't have to take a single side on an issue. This isn't black and white, most things in life are not. That's what I love this show for. You don't leave out the nuances and advocate many sides, admitting why things should happen, and still calling out the horrible conditions some are forced or pressured into. Keep doing what you do John! Love your show

[@terpsidance.]

"I let a bull trample me so that I can pay to prove my innocence" sounds like something you'd expect in a grim-dark cartoon...

[@darkness595]

Shit is just too cold!!

[@brianr6651]

Aka America?

[@terpsidance.]

@@brianr6651 don't catch you slipping now

[@wavealip8059]

This shit sounds like some Running Man type shit. Crazy!

[@SnoFitzroy]

Or a dystopian novel.

[@ribbon8677]

whatever social issue: exists Bigass company: "is this taxable?"

[@dergotsch9284]

anyone: why are you making it worse?! big companies: We like money!

[@horizon319]

Or, “Can I make a buck on it?”

[@stoicunicorn7914]

🦋

[@johannakalytera9574]

Sadly..

[@matthewffunaro]

Actually companies don’t like tax. Tax is a liability which reduces assets.

[@V8SupersQirreL]

She gets paid 9 cent per hour AFTER TAX? I was in prison in Germany, there you get paid about 10 € per day, which is kind of fair. And you don't have to pay for the doc. The system in Germany is more human than that in the US, not that i liked it, but what I saw about your system - best wishes for all the 20 million inmates! And thank you, John, for putting your finger on stuff in your adorable way.

[@AnEnormousNerd]

Germany, like many European countries, has nationalised prisons. Because the government has to pay for prisoners, they try to make it so there are as few prisoners as possible.They design prisons so people who leave them stop being criminals. American prisons, by comparison, are company-owned. Companies are paid based on how many prisoners they have. For this reason many American prisons are specifically designed to keep people in as long as possible, and to make sure the people who leave will be back before long. It's a business, designed to profit off of criminals.

[@V8SupersQirreL]

@@AnEnormousNerd ...but in the end, the governement has to pay also! It is not a good system when you get paid to keep somebody in prison. It shouldn't be about money, but about justice. Also you have unbelievable sentences, like 370 years or so. What's that for? Three times life sentance plus 500 years?! And the worst: You have a young 17 year old, dealing with crack, say 100 gramm or 3 ounces. He gets like 10 years for it, no? If he is black. He just wants to earn money, no violence, and his life is ruined!

[@merp9211]

It’s disgusting the way that officer complained about “good” prisoners being released. His need for free car washes and oil changes shouldn’t have any bearing on sentencing or discharges.

[@0x0michael]

Slavery was abolished "except as a punishment for crimes". Let that sink in

[@thetato1273]

What does the sink want now. Its the third time that he's been here

[@Lunictd]

Well, look at the bright side. When (fingers crossed) Trump goes to prison he will have to actually work for once in his life! (He won't, he has money. Damn...)

[@longlethanh7780]

basically the US abolished chattel slavery by reverting it back to “normal” slavery.

[@babyteano1977]

@@Lunictd 😁😁😁

[@Gray963]

@@Lunictd For the first time in his life, yes sadly. But considering it's nearly all illegally obtained he will be back into debt from fines like he has been since he started.

[@ArthurKnight1899]

That Bill Cosby opening is gold.

[@johan.ohgren]

Thought it sounded like him.

[@craigcarter400]

Talk about self fulfilling prophecy lol

[@joannasaadati8810]

@@craigcarter400 his comedy had lots of clues about his crimes 🤷‍♀️

[@aguywithalotofopinions412]

You know that Louisiana sheriff would’ve fought for slavery had he been born a little earlier

[@Callie_Cosmo]

This man is like if America had a disgruntled businessman dad who bullies it because he wants it to do better

[@sophiadecubellis761]

Holy shit the person who found that Bill Cosby clip deserves a medal

[@acarroll1714]

This show is brilliant. He made us laugh and then let us have it.

[@thedesertrat_9514]

I think they got it from the Fat Albert series where each episode they talk about some sort of educational life lesson. Obviously the irony in this is rich!

[@magnetpull7587]

In my country you can make an apprenticeship in prison and become a professional carpenter for example, so you can get a decent job when you leave and not need to rely on crime again. Then again, the philosophy is not punishment but cure and reintegration into society

[@marvi7n]

What is your country?

[@craikon6974]

sadly, nothing about the prison system in the US is about rehabilitaton. big companies just profit too much off people relapsing into crime to care about them as humans. i am so glad i don't live in the US .. where lobbies and companies control the politics and lawmaking

[@ikaramelya]

I live in a third world African country and we have the same program for prisoners We also have free higher education, almost free healthcare

[@allthenewsordeath5772]

@@ikaramelya no one ask you you Botswanian Communist

[@donprincoify]

Well fuck you and your country.

[@goncalomoniz532]

.The degree of Human development of a country is measured by the way it treats prisoners. A prisoner does not cease to be a citizen with rights while serving his sentence.

[@raymondomit6257]

Judge’s should make punishment fit the crime. All should have right to Basic needs met and be safe from Bodily harm from others . Violent separate from non Violent. If they work and rehabilitate,once they served their sentence it shouldn’t be Held against them and prevent them from getting job in the area of their rehabilitation. Rehabilitation not slavery Incarceration not torture.

[@acciousername6776]

Prison: 12 pads a month Uterus: Am I a joke to you?

[@sokikenji3460]

Accio Username to men, yea

[@mayTK]

How many pads u want for a mnth?

[@MirellaSnape]

@@mayTK I use at least 16 for 5 days. And I don't think I have a too heavy flow.

[@maryellenparmenter2536]

@@mayTK Well, I have a super light flow, and I could still need up to 18 per month, depending on the month. Others might need even more.

[@LadySnowfaerie]

@@mayTK My flow lasts for 6-7 days and is on the heavy side, I can end up going through almost 40 pads and still need to wash all my bedding at least once due to blood stains.

[@altonbeckert506]

The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons. Fyodor Dostoevsky

[@Saitaina]

AltonBeckert So we're in civilized Because we don't pay our prisoner s? Get a fucking grip. They don't fucking deserve it.

[@mo7mdalmutairi]

Saitaina Malfoy dude, prisoners are not all rapist and child murders . Some have just made a stupid mistake . and We all make mistakes...so have some compassion

[@tresden1174]

@@Saitaina You want to defend prisoners being gored for funtimes for the sick people that enjoy it. You don't know why these people are in prison, you DO know that some of them are falsely incarcerated but you...dont care. I hope you think about that and let go of that hate inside you.

[@aleks8078]

@Pluralizes Everythings lolz

[@couragekarnga8735]

Well then, this society is absolutely fucked.

[@paulallen2919]

I didn't know a lot of this stuff before I watched this. Thank you for spreading awareness

[@theoldfinalchapters8319]

Crime certainly does pay. It pays the for-profit prisons.

[@beeonthyme5760]

And they've also opened Immigration detention centers for profit. Lots of money for certain "connected " companies. Follow the money...guess where it leads

[@humanbeing5918]

The meaning was obviously different: committing crime should not be paid

[@h.w.6563]

@@beeonthyme5760 Tell us.

[@NoFretBrettCSSMBFF]

@@beeonthyme5760... Trump Dumps...?

[@alexjackson936]

it also pays if/when you get away with it

[@joshs3229]

The biggest problem isn't wages, or female hygiene products, or costs of phone visits, it's the fact that prisons are run by for profit companies.

[@LexiLSify]

The first time I heard about it, I couldn't believe that was even allowed. (I'm from europe)

[@celticquestful]

Those are absolutely symptoms of a larger illness - putting people's welfare in the hands of corporations who will always put the almighty dollar in front of the humanity involved.

[@obviouslyniceduh5521]

these things arent just in private prisons, they happen in government owned prisons/jails also. its a systemic problem that goes back to old english law that allowed for slavery, that how long this problem has been going on for

[@gferraro2916]

@@obviouslyniceduh5521 yeah but they happen because even in those public prisons private companies are in charge of medical care or phone calls or employment or whatever

[@Hatebreedish]

@LexiLSify because it was not common public knowledge for a very long time.

[@brightballoon]

Searched for a prison labor documentary. Didn't expect all the laughs on top. Nice! (And some very good info, which I was looking for.)

[@TheTurinturumbar]

You're not teaching them crime doesn't pay, you're teaching them work doesn't pay.

[@Nikenik2001]

Exploitation pays seems to be the lesson.

[@robbomegavlkafenryka6158]

TheTurinturumbar they get time taken off imprisonment for working.

[@jmurray1110]

@@Nikenik2001 but then that's just any job you didn't inherit from a wealthy family

[@masudaahmed7990]

Look considering we give them a home for free* food for free* and so much else that would cost money I think not paying them is justified *not very good ones but they did commit crimes

[@TheTurinturumbar]

@@masudaahmed7990 taking away the ability to get their own obligates to fulfill those needs. And take a look at Shaun Attwood's channel, that food man.. Makes you start wondering if America really is a developed country..

[@AgglomeratiProduzioni]

5:47 They are emergency responders while literally jailed felons but they can't do it once they're free citizens. Logic.

[@ballin1394]

that's California...

[@TheMrVengeance]

Ah yes, they are emergency responders, but not *licensed* emergency responders. Loop holes.

[@ThisDique]

@Tv 5150 that's emt not firefighter and paramedic is higher in the rank than an average firefighter. When I looked at what you said I thought "this assholes got no idea what he's talking about"

[@Bayplaces]

@@ballin1394 it's a law in California and an unwritten rule in every other state.

[@ise1441]

@Tv 5150 you do realize that mandatory minimums are there for simple possession. Most inmates are not addicts, especially after time served. Think. You're in prison for possession of 1 gram of cocaine that you were not aware of when given a package. You get pulled over, and that cocaine is found. You're sentenced 15 years for possession. Then you get out after having worked in medicine in prison, but jackasses like you claim their addicts who can't get off drugs and thus can't work in medicine.

[@adamsandry15]

That first Bill Cosby joke is even worse now because he's getting out way early

[@studiosandi]

You are so valuable Mr. John Oliver ❤

[@stephenmiller3939]

I worked as an electrician for 8cents an hr, welder 12c, glove factory 26 cents hr. I was in for pot

[@AnnabelleLeeTx]

My brother worked at a McDonald’s for 10c an hour double shifts. He said he did it for the food (in prison all they fed them was pb &j sandwiches) and to get away from his cell mate- he said he was evil.

[@osxgp]

Kamala Harris help with that?

[@50ksubscriberschillinghomie]

That's Fuck up this shit needs to stop

[@alexcuellar484]

Stephen Miller wtf?!!

[@MartinKristek95]

a sad story :(

[@unvergebeneid]

Wow, watching people get attacked by bulls for entertainment sure sounds a lot like the bread and circuses we like to call the ancient Romans barbaric for.

[@FriedrichHerschel]

2,000 years of "progress".

[@sparrow7625]

If you're referencing gladiators the Romans highly valued them and they killed one rarely, there's a video of Adam ruins everything talking about it, I highly suggest that you watch it.

[@jannichtorp1245]

Who is calling that barbaric?

[@trashboi8340]

That's some Deadman Wonderland type shit right there.

[@Ockerlord]

@@jannichtorp1245 me.

[@ewebtechs345]

What a discovery, your shows are so educational and funny 😄

[@natasham8063]

We cannot leave Biden and the new senators/congressman alone about this

[@dustinproffitt9824]

About that clip explaining prison rodeo and convict poker Thats the hunger games You literally just described the hunger games

[@dan_hitchman007]

And Roman Coliseums.

[@taylor_green_9]

@@dan_hitchman007 They're literally the same thing. It is openly acknowledged in the books

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

Actually, that "game" is play at some regular rodeos too, with regular "non-convict" cowboys...

[@runi5413]

Actually, it's more like the plot of Raging Bull

[@disgusted1]

@@igorschmidlapp6987 The difference is that cowboys can walk away any ti me, and they make good money.

[@justinkamperveen3860]

These people have to pay taxes on a $0.15/hr income. That's absolutely nuts. And that warden talking about losing the "good ones" who they can "use" for washing their cars should have been fired immediately after that statement.

[@truthbespoken333]

Oh C'mon now, what's a poor old white man to do without his slaves?

[@arasb3258]

He is openly complaining about losing good free workers (slaves!)

[@glennlee6987]

Oh come on!! You're being overly dramatic! In the country chalk full of "isms", do you really think they would even entertain the concept of firing someone for such a statement? Quit being so silly with your logic.

[@Oxxyjoe]

@@glennlee6987 well as long as the warden is spitballing about keeping good ones in, he's inviting everyone to start spitballing right back at him. But yeah, he didn't create the problem

[@moonwyrmdelirium4573]

It sounded way too much like he was just talking about slaves.

[@zacharyayotte5553]

That Batman bit fucking killed me and I have next to zero idea why 😂

[@alexius2474]

I love the Business daddy bits!!!

[@lukasdavidschulz]

yeah crime itself shouldn't pay... labor should definitely pay though no matter who and where you are. THAT'S common sense.

[@btonasse]

Exactly. I'm surprised John didn't point out the obvious there. They are not being paid for the crime they commited, but for the work they're doing. Their sentence was just "deprivation of liberty", not "deprivation of liberty and of getting paid"

[@holecow1975]

No, they need to lean responsibly, prison isn’t supposed to be a paying gig. It’s supposed to be hard, give them hygiene products but no pay. Reform the prison system, to help them reform themselves to live life outside.

[@lukasdavidschulz]

​@@holecow1975 nah, being deprived of walking freely is plenty hard. also prison itself isn't the "gig", they're not getting paid for just being there, they're getting paid for putting in work. simple as that.

[@mats7492]

The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.” ― Fyodor Dostoevsky

[@bogdan78pop]

True..!!

[@5GrumpyOldWomen]

Mat S Might be, a better benchmark would be how we protect the unborn child. We all know how that ends up some 30% of the time...

[@acchaladka]

Dostoyevsky is amazing, thank you for the nice surprise. As for the 'unborn' commenter above me, go fuck yourself. "Perhaps if we've understood a thing quickly, we haven't understood it all." -FD, _The Idiot_

[@vishnushanker7370]

@@5GrumpyOldWomen fucking moron

[@vishnushanker7370]

@@5GrumpyOldWomen if its not born its not a child u fucking idiot its just a collection of cells.

[@Dragonite43]

"Securus will eliminate all face to face visitation," so evil...

[@mdouglaswray]

I am so happy to know Oprah's origin story. My life is better. Thank you sir.

[@Trillykins]

I'm astonished that private, for-profit prisons exist. Like, maybe the problem starts there?

[@LouisSubearth]

It is. Some believe the private prison lobby pushes state governments to arrest and incarcerate more people to keep said prisons operating.

[@nimaelos3561]

It definitely is. But asking for it to be changed back to the way it were before, would be called socialist for sure.

[@robertfalk3767]

I'm fine with that, Nimaelos. I really am fine being called a communist, socialist, etc for wanting basic human decency for everyone

[@SapphireDragon357]

@@robertfalk3767 I'm fine with it, too, but the truth is that being called a communist, socialist, etc even if it's not true by any definition of those words, has become a reason to dismiss anything you say by the people that use those words.

[@crunch9876]

No the problem doesn’t start there, it’s just as bad in government run prisons

[@Xhumed]

Bloody hell. Is there any institution in the USA that isn't fundamentally broken?

[@likeabunnie]

Crime?

[@madammarshmallow9468]

Short answer, no.

[@Thenoobestgirl]

Nope.

[@oliver3259]

Nope, not really. The USA is a messed up place falling deeper into the shithole it's built for itself.

[@desklime3026]

Yeah so no

[@kaloofy3500]

“Crime doesn’t pay” isn’t it? Is this not you profiting off crime? Sounds like crime pays to me...

[@Patriot-hz8xk]

This is amazing, these prisoners are making a positive difference!!!

[@DemonEyes02]

Crime shouldn't pay. Especially not the judges, the wardens, or the owners of the prison. Don't incentivize society to create and maintain a "criminal" population.

[@joeyw.7131]

That creates a whole mess of problems though, as outlined in literally the entire video.

[@jellyrolls2765]

@@joeyw.7131 that was his point. He's saying that currently the criminal justice system pays all the people he listed and so they try to maintain a large prison population

[@ExplosionChimp]

The privatization of prisons was one of the worst decisions ever made.

[@ise1441]

@matt rascon you wanna know which prisons never have problems with any riots or unrest? Rehabilitative prisons. Their prisoners have the lowest rearrest rates, highest level of effective treatment for addictions, etc.

[@salmay4266]

What? You don't want us to have a justice system at all, very smart how about we get the purge going on too

[@elianafuchs2091]

John Oliver knows how to take something I knew very little about and make me very invested in it.

[@mase002]

because you don't have a backbone

[@Haitatchi]

You would have known quite a bit on this, if you had watched Tulsi Gabbard roasting Kamala Harris on her record as prosecutor and Attorney General of California during the debates last week. If you haven't watched their exchange yet, I definitely recommend checking it out!

[@Lord_Horker]

No offense but, I think that means you're dumb

[@Brandovichie]

the mark of the tard

[@truthsmiles]

I had a prison pen-pal years ago I've basically ignored for longer than I care to admit. Right after watching this I sent some canteen money and phone credits.

[@lindsayashworth7815]

Great episode Jon 👏. Our for profit prison system is broken.

[@MrSirlulzalot]

Maybe the worst thing about this subject is that it would not have been THAT hard to have some human decency, and the long-term benefit would be worthwhile to everyone involved.

[@Tsukikorao]

"Convict Rodeo" is one of those things that if you told me it was real I wouldn't beleive you, cause it sounds like such a hackneyed dystopian novel idea. And yet here we are I suppose

[@TheNiuhuskies09]

Regular free citizens do rodeo poker too. Its pretty common at rodeos

[@restreven4455]

Nobody Knows so you’re telling me a bunch of desperate people who literally make cents want to make more money by doing something extremely dangerous, you’re telling me we can’t find a better solution. Before the brilliant invention of “no poop on the streets”, guess what we had everyone. Poop in the streets!

[@restreven4455]

Nobody Knows gotcha. But also I meant compared to the usual prison jobs where they make cents, of course they would sign up for something where they could make significantly more money. Really warps the perspective of choice there. Im a pessimistic idealist. I know shit is bad but I still hope for a better way. In an I ideal world where prison is meant for rehabilitation (except serial killers ofc), that shouldn’t be a thing. Focus should be on reintegration into society (learning skills so they don’t come back). How is what they’re doing now going to help except help them get money. That is literally just a few hundred bucks.

[@rvdb7363]

@@restreven4455 in a for-profit prison system, it is not in the interest of the companies that run the prisons to rehabilitate prisoners. They want high recidivism, because that is more money for them. And right now society in the United States is also not built for rehabilitation. If you finished your sentence (and repaid your dept to society) you have problems finding a job, a house etc. And you get little to no assistance to reintegrate in society.

[@restreven4455]

R vdB yup. That’s my beef with this. This prison rodeo is not helping with anything. Forgive me for being dramatic buts it’s really reminding me of prison gladiators in the goddamn coliseum.

[@gunnarliljas8459]

The “convict poker” is like gladiator games. In fact, it's exactly gladiator games. Convicts being put in harm's way for entertainment is the very definition.

[@jjjorp]

It's actually worse. The gladiator warriors were mostly volunteers or in the early years prisoners of war. Even 2000 years ago they knew that putting regular convicts in arenas was wrong.

[@ManoredRed]

They might as well do prisoner boxing.

[@josephw2905]

The rodeo is actually 100% voluntary. My friend is in there for life. The convict poker is the most coveted thing among the inmates. It's fought over to get that job. He's done that many years in a row. The rodeo is the only thing that makes him want to keep moving forward.

[@humanbeing5918]

except American convicts volunteer, and gladiators had no choice

[@ladislauslachmann3604]

@@humanbeing5918 Gladiators also mostly were volunteers... It seems your education is missing on this one

[@mandymoore5774]

Lmao “the sweet release of death” hit home on a whole new level!

[@loved1291]

I just learned so much

[@jacksonthesyndicalist2771]

I really appreciate what John and his team do. They take really important but perhaps not eye catching issues and dive deep. People should watch this show and others like in instead of CNN and Fox News.

[@lucius9532]

Especially Fox News

[@nicholasfarrell5981]

Khumbelo Mulaudzi absolutely Fox "News".

[@couragekarnga8735]

It's a deeply depressing dose of reality, but no less reality. Thanks, John!

[@JANT19294b]

Maybe hop over to TYT and read the idiots in the comments while listening to the video?

[@pragik]

@@JANT19294b see fox news?

[@maythesciencebewithyou]

What's the logic here. You are an inmate and you can work as a firefighter, but once you are out you can't? They just want cheap labor, the cheapest kind.