R.I. Gen. Laws § 13-7-3: Vocational training opportunities — Production of goods or services.

(a) The director of the department of corrections may establish within any of the institutions under his or her control vocational training programs, and programs for the actual manufacture, assembly, repair, fabrication, servicing, and production of commercially saleable commodities and services.

(b) The director or his or her designee may permit private persons, firms, or corporations, to establish and maintain the training and production activities within any of the institutions under his or her management and control, upon any terms and conditions that the director shall approve.

(c) In respect to the actual production of goods or services, as distinct from training programs, the director or his or her designee shall cause the inmates who participate in those programs to be paid by any private person, firm, or corporation, the minimum wage then and there prevailing in this state, and shall attempt, so far as may be feasible and practicable, to cause the inmates to be paid the prevailing wage for similar types of work currently obtained within the state.

(d) The director or his or her designee is authorized, if he or she deems it necessary, to waive workers’ compensation coverage, temporary disability insurance coverage, and other types of fringe benefits in respect to inmates who participate in these programs.

(e) No inmate shall be required to participate in any program without his or her consent.