Massachusetts Launches First-of-Its-Kind $25/Hour Remote Work Pilot for Inmates

The Massachusetts Department of Corrections has announced a new pilot program that will allow some inmates to be paid for remote work while still serving their sentences behind bars.

In a statement, the DOC stated it is a "six-month pilot program that will provide two incarcerated individuals with paid, supervised remote work experience through a partnership with the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison."

The DOC said participants "will work 20 hours a week and earn $25 an hour, with wages funded by the Alliance and Boston College."

Get our free mobile app

Inside the Six-Month MCI-Shirley Pilot Program

The department's Align Initiative defines the pilot program as "a five-year strategic plan that calls for expanding access to professional work experience and preparing incarcerated individuals to find employment after release."

The Alliance said the remote positions will "support projects that advance its national mission" to "advance access and excellence in higher education in prison and through reentry."

Massachusetts Pilot Program Offers Paid Remote Jobs To Inmates

Preparing Incarcerated Scholars for the 2026 Conference

The job responsibilities include preparing materials for the 2026 Incarcerated Scholars Conference, to take place October 28-29, 2026.

The ISC virtual conference "features work by currently incarcerated scholars, graduates, and artists." This year's theme, "Learning in Motion," "captures the idea that education is dynamic, evolving, and alive."

Rehabilitation and Post-Release Employment Goals

Participants will work from a dedicated space at MCI-Shirley, "where DOC staff provide in-person supervision to ensure all activities are conducted safely and securely."

In a statement, DOC Commissioner Shawn Jenkins said, "It's important that we prepare incarcerated individuals for the realities of today's job market so they can successfully gain employment when they return to the community."