WICHITA (AP) – A federal appeals court has upheld a Kansas policy requiring state prison inmates to put part of any money they earn while serving their sentences into savings accounts.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday in a lawsuit against the state by 171 inmates.

The Kansas Department of Corrections requires 10-percent of money earned by inmates in traditional or private work-release programs to be deposited into a mandatory savings account.

The funds are held for the inmates’ use upon release from prison.

The lawsuit contended the requirement violates inmates’ private property rights without due process and amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.

Thursday’s ruling by a three-judge panel affirms a lower court’s decision rejecting the inmates’ arguments.