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An interesting article up on CNN's website debating whether we should remove the "exclusion clause" in the 13th amendment which prohibits slavery and indentured servitude in the United States "except as a punishment for a crime". While many will argue convicts should not enjoy the same Constitutional rights as other citizens, others feel legalized slavery in the U.S. should be ended for all.
Prisoners in the U.S. generally receive a pittance (from 25 cents to $3/hour, usually on the lower end), even when creating products for private companies who resell them for profit. With one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, we're effectively creating an entire underclass of indentured servants in our country who are being exploited by corporations and are not allowed to earn a wage (even if only minimum) which could then be recycled back into the American economy. Worse still, I believe this creates a negative view towards work for those who are incarcerated, who may otherwise have incentive to work and earn a living wage once they are released back into the free world.
JMHO
If you don't think its fair then stay out of prison.
Their food, medical care, and accommodations are being provided at no cost to them.
With all that said I do agree the system is in need of tremendous reform, I just don't agree that they nesssicarly deserve pay let alone better pay.
I will bet if they were paid a wage comparable to what the free market would pay and then were charged the cost of providing them accommodations,food andmedical treatment they would owe the state money.
Average annual costs for incarceration of a federal prisoner are around $31,000. This means we could make money by opening up spots in prisons to the public for an annual fee of say $35,000. Any takers?
The topic of "free will" is a philosophical issue which has been debated for thousands of years. Regardless of your take on this issue, it is a detraction from the point that some people have committed crimes and they have some level of rights as well that must be recognized.
You commit a crime, you've severely limited your rights. This isn't anything new. Your rights don't trump the rights of others.
I have a bigger issue with the death penalty = Giving the government the right to play God
In my cosmology, God GIVES life. Nature and bad breaks takes it away. So at the most, the death penalty gives the government the right to 'play nature'.
They get paid slave wages because the cost to "house" them is a fortune. The tax payers pay for the massive property and utilities to run it 24/7 and maintain it and also pay the enormous staff. So we the taxpayer should pay them more for being a criminal?
Are prisoners today physically forced to work or is it something they agree to do? What happens if they just say no?
As an ex correctional officer if they say NO they get written up and can be placed on lock down. What alot of prisons do now is if one prisoner says NO to work they lock the WHOLE prison down(yes its true)they do that so other prisoners can beat him up,so now prisoners have no choice but to say yes due to other prisoners will harm him physically.Its how chain gang works,its a dark dark world..
If a person wants to be a criminal a REAL criminal work for the government become a police officer you can steal,rob and even shoot people after all its your "job". Heck work for the banks,you can steal people's money ever heard of wells fargo? The only criminals in prison are the dumb street criminals, the smart ones work for the government,were suits and yes they work in your banks legally able to steal.
There should not be any forced labor.. but then I am not sure there is.
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