Prisoners to fill jobs that used to be held by unionized workers

[Thorne]

I can understand this if the convicts are coming to the end of their sentence, it would be useful bridge in rehabilitation. However if these prisoners are mid sentence....its a bad idea.

Why? Of course, it would depend on the criminals. You wouldn't want a convicted murderer, or a three-time violent felon to be out there, but some guy doing a year for smoking pot, or a DUI conviction, wouldn't be a likely threat to escape, and the benefits of having time trimmed off their sentence and/or extra privileges in the prison, would be a great incentive.

I very much doubt if ordinary workers would miss out as the jobs are most probably available because no one will do them.

I think these jobs would have been in demand, if only because of the job security, at least before the anti-union laws were passed. I'd be surprised if there weren't people lined up waiting for an opening.