Maine's Black Friday Special: Prison Crafts

Maine Prison Industries manager Ken Lindsey says Maine prisoners have made handicrafts for sale since the 19th century

Maine's prisons are using Black Friday to sell the handiwork of inmates.

The Maine State Prison Showroom in Thomaston is opening an hour early, at 8 a.m., and reducing prices by 40 percent. The showroom is located four miles from Maine State Prison, where inmates make everything from bookshelves to a model of the U.S.S. Constitution for sale to the public.

Maine Prison Industries manager Ken Lindsey says Maine prisoners have made handicrafts for sale since the 19th century, starting with sleighs and hearses in the early 1800s. He says the program makes more than $1 million per year.

A similar sale is taking place at the Maine Prison Industries outlet store in Windham. The outlet is open at 9 a.m. as usual and is cutting prices by 30 percent
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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