Salary behind bars

The female inmates in penitentiary no.7 in Rusca village are involved in several activities on the prison’s territory, for which they earn a salary of about 2,000 lei. Cristina Mitu, chief of PR of the Penitentiary Institutions Division, told Info-Prim Neo that the women are hired for sewing work clothing (work coats, uniforms) and some work at the kitchen. Some attend courses to become hairdressers, culinary artists or learn to use the computer. “Real money cannot be used during detention, but there is the possibility to use the financial resources through a convict earnings account, which is manage by the prison’s accounting office. There are booths on the prison’s territory, where the inmates can buy necessary things, based on a request they file to the accounting office. Some women choose to send the money earned to their relatives”, stated Cristina Mitu. Cristina Mitu said that the inmates do not receive cash, in order to stop them from buying prohibited items.