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The U.S. Constitution bans slavery except as punishment for a crime. A growing number of states have tried to address this in their own constitutions, but prisoners say the only change is on paper.
The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery back in the mid nineteenth century, but it included an important exception: Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist, it declares, except as punishment for a crime. Some lawyers claim this exception allows for forced labor in prisons even if the forced labour was not not specified in the original sentence.
The U.S. Constitution bans slavery except as punishment for a crime. A growing number of states have tried to address this in their own constitutions, but prisoners say the only change is on paper.
The U.S. Constitution bans slavery except as punishment for a crime. A growing number of states have tried to address this in their own constitutions, but prisoners say the only change is on paper.
Coloradans voted in 2018 to amend their state constitution to ban forced labor in prison. Years later, incarcerated people are still being punished for refusing work assignments.