Alabama’s state prison system faces a wide range of problems, from overcrowding to rampant violence. But one thing its administrators do not have trouble with is coming up with things for inmates to manufacture.

From cleaning solutions and clothing to couches and barbecue grills, the list of items made by prisoners who participate in the Alabama Correctional Industries (ACI) prison work program is long and varied.

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Tutwiler clothing plant

Workers make clothing at a plant at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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“ACI utilizes inmate labor to produce goods and services that are sold to governmental entities within the State,” the ACI website states. “The revenues generated go to offset the costs of incarceration and provide inmates with job skills and practical work experience.”

Participating prisoners are paid 25 to 75 cents per hour for their work, unlike inmate laborers in Arkansas, Georgia and Texas state prisons, who were not paid as of September. And they make more than federal prisoners, who get just 12 to 40 cents an hour, according to Mother Jones.

They may have it slightly better than inmates in other states, but Alabama prisoners still make far less than Alabama’s minimum hourly wage of $7.25.

That disparity has led to strikes, protests and other issues in recent years.

But ACI, which is a division of the state Department of Corrections, continues to be a productive program. Its products are sold via a showroom in Montgomery, an online catalog and printed order forms.

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ACI showroom interior

Alabama Correctional Industries operates a Montgomery showroom of goods made by prisoners. (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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"Our Industries program ranks among the top in the nation in providing meaningful work for inmates," ACI Director Andrew S. Farquhar said in an online statement to customers. "This also allows inmates to learn skills that will assist them in getting better paying jobs upon their release back to society."

Alabama law states that products made by state prisoners can only be sold to “entities whose operational budgets are funded all or in part by tax revenues (e.g. state, county, and city governmental and educational organizations),” according to the ACI website.

An ordinary citizen may not stroll down to ACI’s showroom or log onto its website and pick out and buy a new credenza. And out-of-state sales of ACI products are not allowed.

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ACI showroom exterior

The Alabama Correctional Industries showroom in Montgomery is located at 1400 Lloyd Street. (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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“Alabama Correctional Industries exist primarily for the purpose of providing a work-training program for inmates of the Department of Corrections,” the division’s website states.

Scroll through the photos below for a tour of 54 of the more than 500 products made by prisoners working for ACI:

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Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com

Office desks

Office desks (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Tallapoosa County Court House judge's bench

Tallapoosa County Court House judge's bench (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Barbecue grills

Barbecue grills (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Dormitory furniture

Dormitory furniture (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Governor's house gazebo

Governor's house gazebo (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Prison hats

Prison hats (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com

Laundry detergent

Laundry detergent (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Children's furniture

Children's furniture (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com

Spray bottles

Spray bottles (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Steel trash can containers

Steel trash can containers (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Love seats

Love seats (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Prison dining tables

Prison dining tables (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Library furnishings

Library furnishings (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Upholstered chairs with wooden legs

Upholstered sitting chairs (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com

Tuscaloosa City Clerk's office furniture

Tuscaloosa City Clerk's office furniture (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Prison aprons

Prison aprons (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Glass and window cleaner

Glass and window cleaner (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com

Filing cabinets

Filing cabinets (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Executive chairs

Executive chairs (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com

Modular work stations

Modular work stations (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Work stations

Work stations (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com

Tallapoosa County Court House furniture

Tallapoosa County Court House furniture. (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Stacking chairs

Stacking chairs (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Polish

Polish (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Fire ring grills

Fire ring grills (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Prison coveralls

Prison coveralls (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Cubicles (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com

Prison desks

Prison desks (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Leather office chairs

Leather office chairs

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Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com

Hand soap

Hand soap (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Bedding

Bedding (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com

Freestanding desk systems

Freestanding desk systems (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Hutches

Hutches (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com

Prison pants

Prison pants (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Dormitory storage

Dormitory storage (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Office chairs

As of September, Alabama prisoners were paid between 25 and 75 cents per hour to manufacture a wide range of products. (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com

Prison picnic tables

Prison picnic tables (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Couches

Couches (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Credenzas

Credenzas (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Air freshener

Air freshener (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Prison shirts

Prison shirts (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Department of Transportation office furniture

Department of Transportation office furniture (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Adjustable desks

Adjustable desks (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Disinfectants

Disinfectants (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Upholstered executive chairs

Upholstered executive chairs (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Legless upholstered chairs

Legless upholstered chairs (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Executive desks

Executive desks (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Bleach

Bleach (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Classroom furniture

Classroom furniture (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Computer Chairs

Computer Chairs (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Conference tables

Conference tables (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Floor finish

Floor finish (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com

Upholstered waiting room chairs

Upholstered waiting room chairs (Alabama Correctional Industries)

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End tables

End tables (Alabama Correctional Industries)