Putting aside the carceral state and how many shouldn’t be in prison in the first place.

They should be paid the same as other firefighters (or at least minimum wage) and slot into a job immediately on release.

Like that’s how to build the firefighting levels that are going to be needed in the future.

It’s like how volunteer levels here in Australia are dropping every year, but the government won’t entertain paying even though the seasons are longer, more unpredictable and dangerous.