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Captive in Cycles of Invisibility? Prisoners’ Work for the Private Sector

Author

Listed:
  • Jenna Pandeli

    (University of the West of England (UWE), UK)

  • Michael Marinetto

    (Cardiff University, UK)

  • Jean Jenkins

    (Cardiff University, UK)

Abstract

This article critiques a case of modern prison-labour by exploring prisoners’ attitudes towards the prison-work they undertake while incarcerated. The study is based at a privatised male prison in the UK, assigned the pseudonym ‘Bridgeville’. Bridgeville contracts with private-sector firms in providing market-focused prison-work – so-called real work – for inmates in some of its workshops. In exploring prisoners’ perceptions of this privatised prison-work, it is found that it mainly comprises mundane, low-skilled activities typical of informalised, poor-quality jobs that are socially, legally and economically devalued and categorised as forms of ‘invisible work’. At Bridgeville, such privatised prison-work largely fails in engaging or upskilling inmates, leaving them pessimistic about its value as preparation for employment post-release. Its rehabilitative credentials are therefore questioned. The article contributes to the debate around invisible work more generally by problematising this example of excluded work and the cycle of disadvantage that underpins it.

Suggested Citation

  • Jenna Pandeli & Michael Marinetto & Jean Jenkins, 2019. "Captive in Cycles of Invisibility? Prisoners’ Work for the Private Sector," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 33(4), pages 596-612, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:33:y:2019:i:4:p:596-612
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017018777712
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. M. Anne Visser, 2017. "A floor to exploitation? Social economy organizations at the edge of a restructuring economy," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 31(5), pages 782-799, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lihi Yona & Faina Milman-Sivan, 2025. "The Prison-Identity Complex: Unravelling Labour and Law in Identity-Based Prison Worklines," Laws, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-32, May.
    2. Deborah Giustini, 2023. "Embedded Strangers in One’s Own Job? Freelance Interpreters’ Invisible Work: A Practice Theory Approach," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 37(4), pages 952-971, August.

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