Ecosystem supports for incarcerated worker co-ops

In studying incarcerated worker co-ops, we find that the existence and deployment of co-op ecosystems and other ecosystems of support probably best explain how and when incarcerated worker co-ops, as well as co-ops in prisons, and co-ops that include previously incarcerated people, work best. In this article, we focus on explaining existing support systems with the limited information we have. We first discuss the types of prisons and approaches to rehabilitation that tend to favour co-ops in prisons. We then discuss cooperative ecosystems in general, supports especially for worker co-ops, and then supports for incarcerated worker co-ops. The third section explores self-determination through co-op ownership. The fourth section reviews enabling laws. In the concluding section, we mention barriers to establishing incarcerated worker co-ops and review the significance of cooperative ecosystems for overcoming barriers and supporting sustainable incarcerated worker co-ops.