In my opinion being put in a cell excluded from society for an extended period is punishment enough, I know I would hate to spend 20 something hours a day looking at the same 4 walls. Also can you imagine having your employer replace you and your coworkers with prisoners because they’re cheaper, you already had a shitty job, now you don’t even have that because a literal criminal too it (ironically of no fault of their own).

If the funds for their work (being paid at least minimum wage) were being put in to a capital fund to help people who have completed their sentence re enter society of be way more willing to agree with you but at the moment the only ones profiting are the private companies “hiring” prisoners and the for-profit prison system.

For sewing stretchy fabrics my advice is to purchase an overlocker not a sewing machine, sewing machines will generally suck at stitching stretchy fabrics. If all you have is a sewing machine I recommend triple stitching if your machine has that as a setting.

I’m not a professional at this, I just repair my family’s clothes so if I’m wrong feel free to correct me.

Obligatory thanks Cathy Jarboe