If you’ve never wondered who made the chair you’re sitting on, here’s the answer: prisoners.
Corcraft, the brand name of the Division of Correctional Industries, has long supplied furniture, cleaning supplies, license plates, and more to state institutions, including the City University of New York. Established in 1893 at Auburn Prison in New York, Corcraft was created to save the state money by employing incarcerated individuals to manufacture goods.
The program, part of Governor Hochul’s “Jails to Jobs” initiative introduced in 2022, employs incarcerated individuals, reducing recidivism by 50% among those who have participated. Participants can earn sentence reductions and industry credentials, aiding their reentry into the workforce. Corcraft claims the revenue generated from sales is used to operate the program and invest in equipment and training for participants.
Corcraft is divided into several departments, with manufacturing being the largest. However, concerns persist about the high cost of its products — such as $15.63 per gallon for hand soap compared to $8.91 for an equivalent product. While Corcraft emphasizes rehabilitation over profit, the higher prices raise questions about cost efficiency and taxpayer value.
Though Corcraft claims to prepare participants for post-incarceration employment, its practices paint a murkier picture. Workers earn just $0.16 to $0.65 per hour, sparking ethical concerns. Critics argue that this, combined with the often-mandatory nature of the labor, amounts to modern slavery.
By law, state agencies, including CUNY, are required to prioritize Corcraft when purchasing goods. This “preferred source” status eliminates competitive bidding, giving Corcraft a monopoly-like grip on the public market. For instance, CUNY purchases chairs from Corcraft for up to $800 each, while comparable chairs from suppliers like Uline retail for as little as $115.
From 2009 to 2018, CUNY spent $245,000 on Corcraft products. Meanwhile, Corcraft generates over $30-$40 million annually, largely relying on the labor of incarcerated individuals who face disciplinary sanctions if they refuse to participate. This can include losing opportunities for sentence reductions.
According to Queens College’s Chief Financial Officer, Joseph Loughren Jr., “The college has not regularly made purchases from Corcraft for at least a decade, the last time being in 2023 for office chairs totaling less than $500.”
The products of incarcerated labor are everywhere—street signs, soap, office furniture, every New York State license plate, even cleaning supplies used during the pandemic. Yet, the workers who create them remain largely invisible.
In February, state senators and representatives held a public hearing regarding Corcraft. When pressed on the high prices of products funded by taxpayers, despite the low wages paid to incarcerated workers, a Corcraft representative explained that the program is not for profit but aims to provide technical training. The representative emphasized that Corcraft is ultimately a learning program, and they are not for profit; they break even almost every year.
State representatives questioned the Corcraft representative about the mandatory nature of the labor. Multiple senators claimed to have received letters from inmates about harsh work conditions and disciplinary measures that were taken if the inmate did not participate in the work. The Corcraft representative countered with claims that they might not be telling the full story, and that inmates love working Corcraft jobs so much that there is a waitlist to get into the program.
Student advocacy groups, such as CUNY for Abolition and Safety (CAS), have called on the university to sever ties with Corcraft. In 2021, the group circulated a petition and submitted a letter endorsed by over 90 organizations and 12 elected officials, urging CUNY to divest from prison labor and private prison companies. They highlighted the exploitative conditions, low wages, and health risks faced by incarcerated workers.
Despite these efforts, Corcraft remains a preferred vendor for CUNY. Some progress has been made — Brooklyn College has removed Corcraft as a preferred vendor — but the broader university system continues to rely on its products. QC has made some strides; the blue books on which students take their tests have shifted from being made by incarcerated individuals to those produced by staff at the Jefferson Rehabilitation Center in Watertown, NY.
Supporters argue that programs like Corcraft help incarcerated individuals prepare for life after prison. Critics, however, point to Norway’s prison system, which emphasizes rehabilitation through education and therapy rather than forced labor, as a more effective model for reducing recidivism. They suggest that prioritizing prisoners’ psychological and educational development would better prepare them for reintegration into society.
The prison-industrial complex, driven by financial incentives, remains a significant barrier to meaningful reform. The 13th Amendment, which permits forced labor as punishment for a crime, perpetuates this system.
Advocates continue to demand that CUNY eliminate Corcraft from its purchasing hierarchy and divest from private prisons. As a 2021 petition declared, “The university, which prides itself on serving communities of color, should not be investing in the exploitation of our communities.”
The time has come to reimagine what justice looks like. As Angela Davis, Professor Emerita at UC Santa Cruz, asks: “What would it mean to imagine a system in which punishment is not allowed to become the source of corporate profit?”
For now, the chair you’re sitting on tells a story. The question is whether CUNY — and institutions like it — will listen.
