L.A. has the largest jail system in the country.

You got people that been in jail just like one time and their life can't get nothing because of whatever mistake they made.

I stole some ground turkey because I wanted to feed my family. We was hungry.

Off the Block. Stories tracing the path from city block to cell block and back.

Find it now at kCRW.com or subscribe on iTunes. Stories tracing the path from city block to cell block and back.

Find it now at kCRW.com or subscribe on iTunes.

From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

The fight for a predictable work week.

Hello again, I'm Marvin Alleney, and this is To the Point.

The $15 hourly minimum wage got its start in Seattle.

Now that city's taken a new step for part-time, low-wage workers have to be on call whenever they're needed. In fast food and retail, algorithms determine when business will be

hot or cold, and employers set work schedules without advance notice. What about the needs of the workers?

Plans for child care, time off for illness, or additional part-time jobs

that allow them to make ends meet. Seattle's new rules include two weeks, advance notice for work

schedules, and 10 hours rest between shifts. Do employers accept them? No way. Will they become

a failed experiment or a model for the rest of the country? First,

here's the news.

Check out KCRW's All News Channel, News 24. Programming from KCRW, NPR, NPR, BBC, and more,

24 hours a day. Go to KCRW.com slash news 24 or listen on KCRW's app.

Support for To the Point comes from the members of KCRW and from the Public Radio International Program Fund.

Hello again, Warren. I'll be back with To the Point. America's service economy features fast food and retail industries that depend on part-time workers. That's great for business, but it's hard on the workers involved. Those employees got a break this week. The Seattle

City Council passed new rules that might provide them a better chance for survival. We'll update

...