The Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program (PIECP) Cost Accounting Center (CAC) management structure consists of three program model options.
Employer Model
In this model, the private sector business owns and operates the CAC by controlling the hiring, firing, training, supervision, and payment of the inmate work force. The correctional agency assumes no major role in industry operations, does not direct production, and exercises minimum control over inmate labor performance. These functions are performed, rather, by the private sector business.
Customer Model
In this model, the private sector business is engaged in a CAC enterprise only to the extent that it purchases all or a significant portion of the output of a prison-based business owned and operated by a governmental entity, political subdivision or an instrumentality thereof. A customer model private sector business assumes no major role in industry operations, does not direct production and has no control over inmate labor. These functions are performed, rather, by the correctional agency.
Manpower Model
In this model, the private sector business will pay a pre-determined fee covering labor, overhead, and profit to the prison industry. This model is essentially a labor-leasing model considered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance to be a sub-type of the customer model. Inmates are employed by the correctional agency.
