Logistics & Financial FAQ

Please note: We are still working to add more information to this page

How do artists access supplies inside prison?

Most all personal items (commissary) must be ordered through Union Supply Direct, a partner company for the Correctional Industries division that handles business and employment for Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC). Selection is limited and permits may be required for some art supplies. There is often a steep price markup. Folks inside can generally only receive one non-food supply box a month. In addition, they cannot earn more than $40 per week nor spend more than $500 per month.

How do artists send out their art?

Artists send their work to their family or friends on the outside. As with all things DOC does, mail is both very costly and regulated. To send art, artists have to receive the approval of a specific officer who may not be available, which can add delays.

Where does money from original art and merch sales go?

Because of DOC regulations, the sales from original art and merchandise using an artist’s work do not go directly to the artist, but usually go to the artist’s family or friends. Some artists chose for part of their sales to fund SAC’s printing costs.

What are the financial costs of being incarcerated?

Besides the excessive cost of personal items and communication, folks inside often have Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs). This includes:

  • fines given as punishment

  • fees for court services

  • restitution, which is, in name, compensation for people who have been harmed by the incarcerated person's crime.

However, insurance companies and local governments are among the largest recipients of restitution in Washington. LFOs are fundamentally unjust: 80% of people with LFO debt in Washington live in poverty and cannot afford to pay. LFOs also disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. ??Some SAC artists have LFOs over $10,000. ??

What do donations to SAC fund?

  • Frames and other display items for the art

  • Printing cost of art prints

  • Communicating with the artists. Phone calls are ~$0.05 per minute plus fees and e-messages are ~$0.20 each plus fees through Securus, DOC’s telecom partner.

All outside SAC members are volunteers.

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