Community Work Program Labor

North Carolina Department of Correction

"Inmates Working" road sign

Community Work Program

"Inmates Working" road sign

Since 1994, inmate work crews from North Carolina prisons have been performing manual labor for cities, towns, counties and state agencies all across North Carolina. This labor has resulted in significant cost savings for county and municipal governments. Currently, 1,640 inmates are at work on 10-man inmate Community Work Crews around the state.

Inmate hanging door

Tornado damage cleanup

Community Work Program
North Carolina Department of Correction
Division of Prisons

Year	Inmate hours　 worked	Minimum　 wage	Estimated labor value
2007	1,016,930	$5.85	$ 5,949,041
2006*	1,108,009	$5.15	$ 5,706,246
2005	1,226,928	$5.15	$ 6,318,679
2004*	1,245,695	$5.15	$ 6,415,392
2003*	1,272,978	$5.15	$ 6,555,837
2002	1,656,839	$5.15	$ 8,532,721
2001	2,296,000	$5.15	$12,054,000
2000*	2,034,975	$5.15	$10,480,121
1999	1,773,949	$5.15	$9,135,837
1998	1,925,520	$5.15	$9,916,428
1997	1,698,705	$4.75	$8,068,848
1996	1,417,479	$4.75	$6,733,025
1995	732,156	$4.25	$3,111,663

* Estimated hours

Tire dump cleanup

CWP check presentation