Chapter 340. To provide for the diversification of employment of Federal prisoners, for their training and schooling in trades and occupations, and for other purposes
1,311 words·~6 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-46/chapter-340-1899600·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 340.— An Act To provide for the diversification of employment of Federal prisoners, for their training and schooling in trades and occupations, and for other purposes. May 27, 1930.[[H. R. 7412](/us/bill/71/hr/7412).][[Public, No. 271](/us/pl/71/271).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That it shall beUnited States courts.Federal prisoners.Employment to be provided for, without competing with private industry, etc. the duty of the Attorney General to provide employment for all physically fit inmates in the United States penal and correctional institutions in such diversified forms as will reduce to a minimum competition with private industry or free labor.
Sec. 2. The Attorney General may make available the services ofServices of, available for road construction, clearing public lands, etc. United States prisoners to the heads of the several departments under such terms, conditions, and at such rates as may be mutually agreed upon, for the purpose of constructing or repairing roads the cost of which is borne exclusively by the United States; clearing, maintaining, and reforesting public lands; building levees; and for construction or repairing any other public ways or works which are or may be financed wholly or in major part by funds appropriated from the Treasury of the United States.
To carry out the purposeCamps to be established, etc., for carrying out provisions. of this section the Attorney General may establish, equip, and maintain camps upon sites selected by him and designate such camps as a place for confinement of persons convicted of an offense against the laws of the United States, or transfer thereto any person convicted of any offense against the laws of the United States. The expensesPayment of expenses. of transferring and maintaining prisoners at such camps shall be paid from the appropriation “Support of United States prisoners,” and said appropriation may, in the discretion of the Attorney General, be reimbursed for such expenses.
Sec. 3. The Attorney General shall establish such industries asIndustries to be established for production of articles for prison consumption, or for sale to Government departments, etc. will produce articles and commodities for consumption in United States penal and correctional institutions or for sale to the departments and independent establishments of the Federal Government and not for sale to the public in competition with private enterprise: *Provided*, That any industry established under authority of this Act*Proviso*.Production in Government workshops not to be curtailed by.To afford opportunity for rehabilitation of inmates. be so operated as not to curtail the production within its present limits, of any existing arsenal, navy yard, or other Government workshop.
In establishing said industries the Attorney General shall provide such forms of employment in the Federal penal and correctional institutions as will give the inmates a maximum opportunity to acquire a knowledge and skill in trades and occupations which will provide them with a means of earning a livelihood upon release. The industries to be established by the Attorney GeneralLocations for sites. under authority of this section may be either within the precincts of any penal or correctional institution or in any convenient locality where an existing property may be obtained by lease, purchase, or otherwise.
Sec. 4. In lieu of the working-capital funds authorized for theConsolidated working-capital fund created in lieu of authorized funds.Vol. 40, p. 897.[U. S. C., p. 519](/us/usc/p519).Vol. 43, p. 7.[U. S. C., p. 518](/us/usc/p518). textile mill at the Atlanta Penitentiary by the Act approved July 10, 1918 (chapter 144, Fortieth Statute, page 897; section 799, title 18, United States Code), and for the shoo factory at the Leavenworth Penitentiary by the Act approved February 11, 1924 (chapter 17, Forty-third Statute, page 7; section 772, title 18, United States Code), there is hereby created a consolidated prison industries working-capital fund which shall be available for carrying on industrial enterprises at any of the several Federal penal and correctional institutions heretofore or hereafter established.
Sec. 5. All money appropriated for, or now on deposit with theTransfers from separate funds to the consolidated fund herein authorized. Treasurer of the United States to the credit of the said workingcapital funds at Atlanta Penitentiary and Leavenworth Penitentiary, shall be credited to the consolidated prison industries working392 capital fund herein authorized. All money received from the sale of the products or by-products of such industries as are now or hereafter established, or for the services of said United States prisoners, shall be placed to the credit of said prison industries working-capitalAdditional sums authorized. fund, which may be used as a revolving fund.
There are authorized to be appropriated such additional sums as may from time to time be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Sec. 6. Disbursement and use of working-capital fund. The prison industries working-capital fund shall be administered and disbursed by or under the direction of the Attorney General,Purchase, etc., of mechanical equipment, raw materials, etc. and shall be available for the purchase, repair, or replacement of industrial machinery or equipment; for the purchase of raw materials; for compensation to inmates employed in any industry under rules and regulations promulgated from time to time by the AttorneyCivilian personnel.
General; for the employment of necessary civilian officers and employees engaged in any industrial enterprise at any of the Federal penal and correctional institutions and in the District of Columbia;Repair of buildings, etc.Traveling expenses, etc. for the repair, alteration, erection, and maintenance of industrial buildings and equipment; and for travel and any other expenses incident to or connected with the establishment, operation, or maintenance of such prison industries as are now established or may hereafter be established by the Attorney General at the several penal and correctional institutions.
Sec. 7. Purchase of prison products by Federal departments, etc., at market prices. The several Federal departments and independent establishments and all other Government institutions of the United States shall purchase at not to exceed current market prices, such products of the industries herein authorized to be carried on as meet their requirements and as may be available and are authorized by thePurchase price, etc., disputes, to be arbitrated by board designated herein. appropriations from which such purchases are made.
Any disputes as to the price, quality, suitability or character of the products manufactured in any prison industry and offered to any Government department shall be arbitrated by a board consisting of the Comptroller General of the United States, the Superintendent of Supplies of the General Supply Committee, and the Chief of the UnitedDecision of board, final States Bureau of Efficiency, or their representatives. The decision of said board shall be final and binding upon all parties.
Sec. 8. Good conduct commutation available to prisoners hereunder.Vol. 32, p. 397; Vol. 34, p. 149.[U. S. C., p. 514](/us/usc/p514). The Act of Congress approved June 21, 1902 (Chapter 1140, Thirty-second Statutes, page 397), as amended by the Act of April 27, 1906 (Chapter 1997, Thirty-fourth Statutes, page 149; sections 710 to 712a, inclusive, title 18, United States Code), providing for commutation of sentences of United States prisoners for good conduct, shall be applicable to prisoners engaged in any industry, orFurther deductions during employment. transferred to any camp established under authority of this Act; and in addition thereto each prisoner, without regard to length of sentence, may, in the discretion of the Attorney General, be allowed, under the same terms and conditions as provided in the Acts of Congress referred to in this section, a deduction from his sentence of not to exceed three days for each month of actual employment in said industry or said camp for the first year or any part thereof, and for any succeeding year or any part thereof not to exceed five days for each month of actual employment in said industry or said camp.
Sec. 9. Conflicting laws repealed. All Acts and parts of Acts in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. Approved, May 27, 1930.