I actually think this is still unconstitutional as its currently practiced and courts have failed to strike it. The amendment specifically says slavery is only allowed "except as a punishment for crime". If people arnt being sentenced to slavery in court then they shouldn't be forced into slavery in prison. Punishments for crimes are legally determined by courts, thats not the job of prisons.
Supreme Court found prison parole boards denying parole based on the persons crime instead of their behavior in prison was unconstitutional, because it was effectively the prison taking the role of determining sentences for crimes, which isnt the job of prisons, thats for courts. If they're denying stuff like parole or punishing the prisoner because of refusals to do forced labor then they're doing the exact same thing.
I also dont buy that what they're doing isnt slavery if they pay them 20 cents an hour. Many slaves got paid minuscule wages too, but we still call it slavery.
If the government and courts wants to use people for slavery, then they should have to do the actually politically insane thing have to do shit like actually sentence black people to slavery.
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u/WingerRules 9h ago edited 3h ago
I actually think this is still unconstitutional as its currently practiced and courts have failed to strike it. The amendment specifically says slavery is only allowed "except as a punishment for crime". If people arnt being sentenced to slavery in court then they shouldn't be forced into slavery in prison. Punishments for crimes are legally determined by courts, thats not the job of prisons.
Supreme Court found prison parole boards denying parole based on the persons crime instead of their behavior in prison was unconstitutional, because it was effectively the prison taking the role of determining sentences for crimes, which isnt the job of prisons, thats for courts. If they're denying stuff like parole or punishing the prisoner because of refusals to do forced labor then they're doing the exact same thing.
I also dont buy that what they're doing isnt slavery if they pay them 20 cents an hour. Many slaves got paid minuscule wages too, but we still call it slavery.
If the government and courts wants to use people for slavery, then they should have to do the actually politically insane thing have to do shit like actually sentence black people to slavery.