Sweden hopes 'Made in Jail' makes money

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Sweden's prison officials say they hope the "Made in Jail" label helps the prison system break into profitability.

Business is down for the country's prison factories, where officials report revenues off nearly $32,000 for the last two years, The Local reported Wednesday

"The idea behind the venture with "Made in Jail" is to lift sales and income," said Anne Marie Dahlgren, of the Kriminalvarden, or the Swedish Prison and Probation Service.

"Made in Jail" is popular in other countries, including the United States, and now the Swedish Prison and Probation Service is hoping for similar success, Dahlgren said. "Made in Jail" recently was registered and launched at a suppliers' convention in Jonkoping.

About 1,000 prisoners in Swedish prisons work for $1.55 an hour in system's commercial activities. Officials attribute the poor financial performance to supervision and security costs associated with prison labor.