Thursday, March 5, 1998 | 3:32 a.m.
But since there isn't a lot of demand for that particular skill in the outside world, the Nevada prison system has expanded inmate work programs into dozens of other skilled trades over the past decade.
Prison Industries Director Howard Skolnik said both the prison system and the inmates benefit. The convicts learn skills that might help them stay employed and out of prison after release, and they pay a healthy chunk back to the state.
The programs pay only minimum wage. And prison officials take more than a third of that off the top: 24.5 percent of their earnings pays the state for their keep, 5 percent goes to the victim compensation fund and 5 percent goes to expand prison industry programs.
Even with the deductions, Skolnik says there are waiting lists for most prison industry programs.
Beyond the rewards of learning a trade and doing something, he said inmates with prison industry jobs have more money than other convicts.
"Even with the deductions, their disposable income is probably higher than yours," he said.
He said another advantage for many of the inmates is that prison industries shops are "a demilitarized zone."
"For eight hours a day, they're in a sanctuary within the prison," he said. "They escape the pressures and don't feel like they're in prison."
There are, however, some concessions to security. There is no metal shop, for example, at the maximum-security Ely State Prison. There the business is making draperies.
"It's hard to stab somebody with a drape," said Skolnik.
For those who question the expense, Skolnik pointed out that the entire program is self-supporting
He said the furniture shop made a $300,000 profit the first half of this fiscal year. He credited Mike Bates, who manages the shop, and the inmates who work in it for doubling productivity while improving quality.
But he said the other shops, including those in southern Nevada that produce stained glass decorations, are also paying their own way.
And operations such as furniture and upholstery are proving they can make it in the business world by turning out quality products at competitive prices while meeting business-like deadlines, he said.
As an example, he said a University of Nevada, Reno order placed two weeks ago will be out the door next week.
Skolnik said state agencies now gladly order prison-made furniture and outside orders from business and other states are also on the rise.
And he said Prison Industries isn't competing unfairly.
While many prison work programs around the country pay only a few cents an hour or pay by piecework, Nevada pays minimum wage, buys industrial insurance through SIIS and meets industry standards and other requirements for products such as furniture.
"It's a well-kept secret that we can run a business at a profit in the middle of government," said Skolnik.
Skolnik said he is still expanding prison industry programs. He is now completing a deal that should set up the program's biggest private contract yet: a plant that makes decorative ceramic wall and floor tiles to be built at the Lovelock prison.
That plant should eventually employ 300 inmates.
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