why not market wage? Prison inmates often have spouses, children, elders, and also need to save for their own retirement

If we want to rehabilitate people, we have to consider their financial wellbeing so they can reenter society when they are released, otherwise, we are just setting them up for continued failures

And would almost completely kill the profit motive of prisons that we know for a fact has been used to put innocent people behind bars.

https://www.npr.org/2014/03/08/287286626/kids-for-cash-captu...

It seems prudent to remove perverse incentives when possible.

> why not market wage

There would be zero public support for giving prisoners free food and housing for building up a nest egg. Market rate is fine, but I imagine a deduction for prison costs would be assessed.