"Trusty"
ORCID
May: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8275-6773
MSU Affiliation
College of Arts and Sciences; Department of Sociology
Creation Date
2026-06-01
Abstract
The term “trusty” refers to a prisoner who works at a variety of jobs inside and outside jails and prisons. Trusties clean prison and community grounds, wash inmate clothing, and build cabinets and other wood products for government offices and nonprofit agencies, among many other tasks. The most well-known use of the trusty system in the United States was in Mississippi, and was dismantled by a federal judge in the case of Gates v. Collier (1972). Although little scientific research exists on this topic, the use of trusties appears to be widespread in jails and prisons in the United States and in other nations.
Publication Date
8-1-2017
Publication Title
Encyclopedia of Corrections
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
First Page
1
Last Page
2
Recommended Citation
Wright, B. and May, D.C. (2017). “Trusty”. In The Encyclopedia of Corrections, K.R. Kerley (Ed.). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118845387.wbeoc207
