Kim Kardashian Says Prisoners Who Fought L.A. Wildfires Were Paid 'Just a Few Dollars,' and She Wants to Change That
Kim Kardashian Says Prisoners Who Fought L.A. Wildfires Were Paid 'Just a Few Dollars,' and She Wants to Change That
Karla Marie SanfordThu, March 19, 2026 at 1:35 PM UTC
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From left: Kim Kardashian and the Los Angeles wildfires in 2025Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty -
Kim Kardashian is endorsing legislation introduced by Sen. Cory Booker this week that would pay incarcerated federal workers minimum wage
Kardashian says she was spurred to support the issue after watching prisoners fight the L.A. wildfires last year
Booker says his legislation could help fight recidivism
Kim Kardashian just endorsed new legislation that, if passed, would pay all incarcerated workers federal minimum wage.
The bill was reintroduced on Thursday, March 19, by Democratic Sen. Cory Booker.
It would require that prisoners who are working receive the federal minimum wage through amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act and eliminate "excessive" deductions for fees, fines and living costs in correctional facilities, according to Booker's office.
Booker, from New Jersey, first introduced the legislation in 2023, where it stalled after being referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
Kardashian, who has become a vocal criminal justice reform advocate in recent years, joined Booker's new push because of last year's Los Angeles wildfires, she says in an exclusive statement.
"I personally watched incarcerated people who risked their lives battling the massive wildfires in Los Angeles last year," she says. "They showed so much bravery and commitment doing the same dangerous work as professional firefighters but they were paid just a few dollars a day."
"In many cases, they’re banned from even applying for firefighting jobs once they’re released," Kardashian, 45, adds. "That’s not just unfair, it’s un-American."
Prisoners who work contribute billions of dollars annually to the U.S. economy, according to the ACLU, as cited by Booker's office. But they aren't paid the same as regular workers, which is controversial among advocates.
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Terrance Winn, a prison reform activist, says in a statement shared by Booker's office that he made no more than 16 cents per hour during his 30 years of labor while behind bars.
Booker, 56, in his own statement, said his legislation could help fight recidivism.
"Incarcerated workers contribute meaningful labor that supports our economy and our communities, yet they are denied a fair wage that could help support victims and assist in their reentry," he said.
In 2023, Kardashian, along with her sister Khloe, teamed with REFORM Alliance's Future Shapers Advisory Council to visit Los Angeles County's California State Prison in an effort to speak with incarcerated individuals and learn more about their experiences.
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Before that, after learning of sexual abuse victim Dawn Jackson's decadeslong imprisonment, Kardashian launched a campaign that culminated in Jackson's sentence being commuted in 2024.
In addition to Kardashian, Booker's legislation is endorsed by Reps. Emanuel Cleaver and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who will introduce companion legislation in the House; as well as organizations including the ACLU, Brennan Center for Justice and others.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
