Prison forced labour might not be a good idea. Prison labour as an optional thing is definitely a good idea, and most prisons give prisoners the option to contribute, at least to the running of the prison, in exchange for certain privileges. The jobs include working in the laundry room or serving food. These are not intensely engaging occupations, but they are an improvement over the monotony of prison life, and give people the opportunity to excercise certain skills useful in the real world like teamwork, diligence, etc.
