That’s the point. The US has for profit prisons and also uses prisoners as slave labor (ok, technically not slave, they officially get paid, but it’s like $0.03 an hour or something, so it’s effectively slave labor). More prisoners means more profits for the owners and the politicians they give kickbacks to. They’re modern day plantations. The more things change the more they stay the same.
They’re usually paid some miniscule amount, but not always; the 13th amendment specifically allows prisoners to be used as slaves. Most states have laws banning it, but not all of them.
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, and Texas do not pay incarcerated workers at all for their labor.
This only adds to your point, but I wanted to include that several states (in the South of course) do in fact pay absolutely NOTHING for their prison labor.
Some areas may pay prisoners minimum wage for work release jobs, but I believe many of those can turn around and garnish those same wages for room and board at the prison. It’s ridiculous. The second you make more than a dime for your labor, we will start charging you for the right to live again.
That’s the point. The US has for profit prisons and also uses prisoners as slave labor (ok, technically not slave, they officially get paid, but it’s like $0.03 an hour or something, so it’s effectively slave labor). More prisoners means more profits for the owners and the politicians they give kickbacks to. They’re modern day plantations. The more things change the more they stay the same.
They’re usually paid some miniscule amount, but not always; the 13th amendment specifically allows prisoners to be used as slaves. Most states have laws banning it, but not all of them.
Yeah, I tend to use the phrase “coerced labor” when I talk about that s***.
I completely agree with everything you’re saying, the American criminal, judicial and prison system is absolutely f****** horrifying.
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, and Texas do not pay incarcerated workers at all for their labor.
This only adds to your point, but I wanted to include that several states (in the South of course) do in fact pay absolutely NOTHING for their prison labor.
Some areas may pay prisoners minimum wage for work release jobs, but I believe many of those can turn around and garnish those same wages for room and board at the prison. It’s ridiculous. The second you make more than a dime for your labor, we will start charging you for the right to live again.
They could be payed 1000 dollars an hour and it would still be slavery.
Slavery doesn’t mean working for free. It means being forced to work without having a choice.
Just look at historic plantations. They got paid a decent wage but they had no choice. They couldn’t leave. They couldn’t up and go do something else.