The BASICs Act will Reduce Prison Canteen Markups for Incarcerated Californians
By Macio Lindsey, 2023 Inside Policy Fellow with the Ella Baker Center, currently incarcerated at Substance Abuse Treatment Facility
Every person should be able to afford their basic needs — to have enough food to eat when they’re hungry and sufficient products like soap, toothpaste, and deodorant to take care of their basic hygiene. However, this isn’t the case for me and many incarcerated people who can’t afford the ridiculously high canteen prices inside California prisons.
Every month, prices increase on one item or another. It’s impossible to purchase everything I need on a prison wage of only $11 a month. Can you imagine spending 100 percent of your monthly income on food and hygiene products that are marked up 65 percent or more? This has been my reality for quite some time.
Senate Bill 474, also known as the Basic, Affordable Supplies for Incarcerated Californians (BASICs) Act, seeks to limit prison canteen markups to no more than 35 percent. Prison canteens across the state currently sell essential products at a markup of between 65 and 200 percent.
Imagine spending 100% of your monthly income on food and hygiene products alone
The BASICs Act was recently passed in the California Legislature and is now awaiting Governor Newsom’s signature.
Throughout my 30 years of incarceration, times have never been as hard as they are right now. Every aspect of my life in prison is impacted by high canteen prices. My exercise has been reduced to 3 times a week because I lack the food to maintain my weight if I exercise more. When it’s extremely hot, I can only afford to take one shower a day because I risk running out of soap if I take two showers. Imagine being crammed in a crowded dorm in triple-digit temperatures with no air conditioner and you can’t afford to buy items from the canteen for your hygiene. It’s shameful the squalid, communal living conditions inside simply because of ridiculous prison canteen prices.
There can be no justification for imposing 65 percent mark-ups on canteen items. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCr) has the added cost benefit of negotiating contracts that combine bulk purchases from all state prisons which ensures a low wholesale price from vendors.
Every aspect of my life in prison is impacted by high canteen prices.
Those incarcerated rely more frequently on their family’s financial support to afford their basic necessities. My family has worked all their adult lives, but they are not rich. They can’t afford to send me money every month without sacrificing the essentials they need for themselves. Sometimes my need overrides my embarrassment and I ask for help. I appreciate the money they send, but canteen prices quickly consume their financial gift and I’m still in need!
This isn’t an issue about buying candy bars and potato chips. It’s about high prison canteen prices adversely affecting our lives, our health, and living conditions. Having access to affordable food and other necessities should be the right of every Californian, even those incarcerated. Support the BASICs Act to limit prison canteen markups to 35% and make food and basic necessities affordable.
The BASICs Act is the financial relief many system-impacted people need.
