Prison Wage News Today

She was overly friendly. >> reporter: joyce was particularly friendly with the cop-killer david sweat. >> good worker? >> very good worker. >> reporter: sweat had been promoted to, "instructor," teaching inmates how to sew. which landed him the top prison wage, 40 cents an hour. the position also put him in a close professional relationship with joyce. then she allowed their relationship to become personal. she says that was natural. >> when youre workin with your instructor, its like your right...

She was overly friendly. >> reporter: joyce was particularly friendly with the cop-killer david sweat. >> good worker? >> very good worker. >> reporter: sweat had been promoted to instructor teaching inmates how to sew. which landed him the top prison wage, 40 cents an hour. the position also put him in a close professional relationship with joyce. then she allowed their relationship to become personal. she says that was natural. >> when youre working with your instructor, its like your right-ha...

Was reassigned, and he lost the prison wage that bought him favours and relative comfort on the inside. >> when mr. sweat was removed from the shop and i guess i felt bad, because even though hes an inmate just like you or i, you know, if we lost our jobs, wed want someone to help us. >> reporter: as joyce took pity on sweat, jeffrey dumas says that was the perfect moment for richard matt to step in. >> then inmate matt sees his opportunity to be the go between her and sweat, because matt and sw...

Another civilian. and my supervisor wrote him up for that. >> reporter: that meant sweat was reassigned, and he lost the prison wage that bought him favors and relative comfort on the inside. >> when mr. sweat was removed from the shop, i guess i felt bad because even though hes an inmate just like you or i, you know, if we lost our jobs, wed want someone to help us. >> reporter: as joyce took pity on sweat, jeffrey dumas says that was the perfect moment for richard matt to step in. >> then inma...

Was operated. >> there is a common misconception about prison and that is they have it made. three hots and a cot and they are all taken care of. prisoners have to support themselves. they work full-time jobs in prison for small wages. for working 40 hours a week unloaded flood on the loading dock i made 5.25 a month and that was triple prison wage. they dont pay for simple things like soap and deodorant and shah shampoo. even to stay clean, let alone for pen and paper and stamps you have to fig...