Prisons - Unicor

UNICOR is the trade name for Federal Prison Industries, Inc., the government corporation that employs inmates in federal prisons. UNICOR should not be confused with state prison industry programs administered by the states. Under UNICOR, established in 1934, federal inmates get job training by producing goods and services for federal agencies. In 2005 items produced by inmates included industrial products (lockers, fencing, filtration products, storage cabinets, shelving), clothing and textile products (draperies, towels, mattresses, canvas goods, military clothing), graphics and services (data entry, text editing, road signs), electronics (lighting systems, circuit boards, cable assemblies, connectors, power distribution systems), office furniture, and recycling activities.

UNICOR products and services must be purchased by federal agencies and are not for sale in interstate commerce or to nonfederal entities. UNICOR is not permitted to compete with private industry. If UNICOR cannot make the needed product or provide the required service, federal agencies may buy the product from the private sector through a waiver issued by UNICOR.

According to the agency's 2004 Annual Report, UNICOR employed 19,337 inmates in 102 factories at seventy-one prison locations. Approximately 13% of all inmates in Bureau of Prisons facilities work for UNICOR. The agency's goal is to employ 25% of all work-eligible prisoners who have no existing job skills. UNICOR had 2004 sales of $802.7 million, up from $678.6 million in 2002. (See Table 4.11.)

UNICOR is a self-supporting government corporation that may borrow funds from the U.S. Treasury and use the proceeds to purchase equipment, pay wages to inmates and staff, and invest in expansion of facilities. No funds are appropriated for UNICOR operations.