Rural counties increasingly rely on prisons to provide firefighters and EMTs who work for free, but the inmates have little protection or future job prospects

But while these programs fill a vital service in many rural areas, they aren't universally loved. They have been accused of both exploiting incarcerated people and taking jobs away from professional firefighters…

https://theconversation.com/rural-counties-increasingly-rely-on-prisons-to-provide-firefighters-and-emts-who-work-for-free-but-the-inmates-have-little-protection-or-future-job-prospects-222448