Working in agricultural operations inside prison comes with a range of health risks. Based on publicly available sources, such as government reports, media coverage, and investigations by advocacy organizations, it is clear that there are many environmental burdens that place prisoners at risk. Across the country, prisoners are subject to extreme heat, air pollution, pesticide exposure, and toxic waste. The following case studies discuss how prison agriculture can harm prisoner’s health, often with little to no government accountability. Nevertheless, prisoners and their supporters are elevating the seriousness of environmental burdens and the need to uplift the inherent dignity of incarcerated workers.
Prison Agriculture Lab 