Unpaid Prison Labor

[The Hammer]

Prisoners in the US are part of a hidden workforce linked to hundreds of popular food brands

The Associated Press found goods linked to prisoners wind up in the supply chains of everything from Frosted Flakes to Coca-Cola.

apnews.com

Unpaid (2-40¢/hour slimly maybe) labor in The US prison system seems to me to be just modern slavery with extra steps.

"ANGOLA, La. (AP) — A hidden path to America’s dinner tables begins here, at an unlikely source – a former Southern slave plantation that is now the country’s largest maximum-security prison.

Unmarked trucks packed with prison-raised cattle roll out of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, where men are sentenced to hard labor and forced to work, for pennies an hour or sometimes nothing at all. After rumbling down a country road to an auction house, the cows are bought by a local rancher and then followed by The Associated Press another 600 miles to a Texas slaughterhouse that feeds into the supply chains of giants like McDonald’s, Walmart and Cargill." (Emphasis mine)

Do you eat at any of these places/brands that serves slave labor food?

"The AP found that U.S. prison labor is in the supply chains of goods being shipped all over the world via multinational companies, including to countries that have been slapped with import bans by Washington in recent years. For instance, the U.S. has blocked shipments of cotton coming from China, a top manufacturer of popular clothing brands, because it was produced by forced or prison labor. But crops harvested by U.S. prisoners have entered the supply chains of companies that export to China."

Seems we should be following our own advice then? But hey, we were a nation founded on slavery, why would that go way. It just gets rebranded (yay capitalism, and the profit over people mentality).

 

[Twilight Hue]

Prisoners in the US are part of a hidden workforce linked to hundreds of popular food brands

The Associated Press found goods linked to prisoners wind up in the supply chains of everything from Frosted Flakes to Coca-Cola.

apnews.com

Unpaid (2-40¢/hour slimly maybe) labor in The US prison system seems to me to be just modern slavery with extra steps.

"ANGOLA, La. (AP) — A hidden path to America’s dinner tables begins here, at an unlikely source – a former Southern slave plantation that is now the country’s largest maximum-security prison.

Unmarked trucks packed with prison-raised cattle roll out of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, where men are sentenced to hard labor and forced to work, for pennies an hour or sometimes nothing at all. After rumbling down a country road to an auction house, the cows are bought by a local rancher and then followed by The Associated Press another 600 miles to a Texas slaughterhouse that feeds into the supply chains of giants like McDonald’s, Walmart and Cargill." (Emphasis mine)

Do you eat at any of these places/brands that serves slave labor food?
View attachment 87605

"The AP found that U.S. prison labor is in the supply chains of goods being shipped all over the world via multinational companies, including to countries that have been slapped with import bans by Washington in recent years. For instance, the U.S. has blocked shipments of cotton coming from China, a top manufacturer of popular clothing brands, because it was produced by forced or prison labor. But crops harvested by U.S. prisoners have entered the supply chains of companies that export to China."

Seems we should be following our own advice then? But hey, we were a nation founded on slavery, why would that go way. It just gets rebranded (yay capitalism, and the profit over people mentality).

That's because it's constitutionally backed. Slavery never went away at all. It just changed hands to a new equal opportunity plantation owner. The state.

 

[The Hammer]

That's because it's constitutionally backed. Slavery never went away at all. It just changed hands to a new equal opportunity plantation owner. The state.

Unfortunately

 

[Revoltingest]

Unfortunately

Prison is supposed to be punishment for crimes.
Productive work is at least useful. Ideally, it should
also rehabilitate.

 

[libre]

They make cents and then spend it at a commissary that price gauges to make a profit.
Truly evil

 

[Stevicus]

Prisoners in the US are part of a hidden workforce linked to hundreds of popular food brands

The Associated Press found goods linked to prisoners wind up in the supply chains of everything from Frosted Flakes to Coca-Cola.

apnews.com

Unpaid (2-40¢/hour slimly maybe) labor in The US prison system seems to me to be just modern slavery with extra steps.

"ANGOLA, La. (AP) — A hidden path to America’s dinner tables begins here, at an unlikely source – a former Southern slave plantation that is now the country’s largest maximum-security prison.

Unmarked trucks packed with prison-raised cattle roll out of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, where men are sentenced to hard labor and forced to work, for pennies an hour or sometimes nothing at all. After rumbling down a country road to an auction house, the cows are bought by a local rancher and then followed by The Associated Press another 600 miles to a Texas slaughterhouse that feeds into the supply chains of giants like McDonald’s, Walmart and Cargill." (Emphasis mine)

Do you eat at any of these places/brands that serves slave labor food?
View attachment 87605

"The AP found that U.S. prison labor is in the supply chains of goods being shipped all over the world via multinational companies, including to countries that have been slapped with import bans by Washington in recent years. For instance, the U.S. has blocked shipments of cotton coming from China, a top manufacturer of popular clothing brands, because it was produced by forced or prison labor. But crops harvested by U.S. prisoners have entered the supply chains of companies that export to China."

Seems we should be following our own advice then? But hey, we were a nation founded on slavery, why would that go way. It just gets rebranded (yay capitalism, and the profit over people mentality).

I believe they should get paid, as should any worker for their labor. Although it's true that the 13th Amendment allows an exception for those serving sentence for a crime. It's no surprise that some states have turned it into a cottage industry. I've heard of Angola prison before. It's had a horrific reputation. I wouldn't want to end up in any prison, but those southern work farms seem the worst.

Though I've heard that a good way to get out is to try to get the job of taking care of the bloodhounds.

 

[Revoltingest]

I believe they should get paid, as should any worker for their labor. Although it's true that the 13th Amendment allows an exception for those serving sentence for a crime. It's no surprise that some states have turned it into a cottage industry. I've heard of Angola prison before. It's had a horrific reputation. I wouldn't want to end up in any prison, but those southern work farms seem the worst.

Though I've heard that a good way to get out is to try to get the job of taking care of the bloodhounds.

Why should they be paid?
They're in prison, & denied many civil rights, eg,
freedom of movement, freedom from warrantless
searches, freedom of speech, etc. Lack of fair
wages is just another punishment.

 

[Shaul]

Slaves don't have any rights, prisoners do. The prisoners are paid. They are not forced to work. It is voluntary.

 

[McBell]

Slaves don't have any rights, prisoners do. The prisoners are paid. They are not forced to work. It is voluntary.

​

The Federal Bureau of Prisons disagrees:

​

Sentenced inmates are required to work if they are medically able. Institution work assignments include employment in areas like food service or the warehouse, or work as an inmate orderly, plumber, painter, or groundskeeper. Inmates earn 12¢ to 40¢ per hour for these work assignments.​

​

BOP: Work Programs

www.bop.gov

 

[McBell]

Prisoners in the US are part of a hidden workforce linked to hundreds of popular food brands

The Associated Press found goods linked to prisoners wind up in the supply chains of everything from Frosted Flakes to Coca-Cola.

apnews.com

Unpaid (2-40¢/hour slimly maybe) labor in The US prison system seems to me to be just modern slavery with extra steps.

"ANGOLA, La. (AP) — A hidden path to America’s dinner tables begins here, at an unlikely source – a former Southern slave plantation that is now the country’s largest maximum-security prison.

Unmarked trucks packed with prison-raised cattle roll out of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, where men are sentenced to hard labor and forced to work, for pennies an hour or sometimes nothing at all. After rumbling down a country road to an auction house, the cows are bought by a local rancher and then followed by The Associated Press another 600 miles to a Texas slaughterhouse that feeds into the supply chains of giants like McDonald’s, Walmart and Cargill." (Emphasis mine)

Do you eat at any of these places/brands that serves slave labor food?
View attachment 87605

"The AP found that U.S. prison labor is in the supply chains of goods being shipped all over the world via multinational companies, including to countries that have been slapped with import bans by Washington in recent years. For instance, the U.S. has blocked shipments of cotton coming from China, a top manufacturer of popular clothing brands, because it was produced by forced or prison labor. But crops harvested by U.S. prisoners have entered the supply chains of companies that export to China."

Seems we should be following our own advice then? But hey, we were a nation founded on slavery, why would that go way. It just gets rebranded (yay capitalism, and the profit over people mentality).

Where is all the math?
You know, how much it costs to house, clothe, feed, provide medical for, etc. an inmate?
How many hours said inmate works a week.
Hourly rate of inmate

 

[Stevicus]

Why should they be paid?
They're in prison, & denied many civil rights, eg,
freedom of movement, freedom from warrantless
searches, freedom of speech, etc. Lack of fair
wages is just another punishment.

Only if they're really guilty of doing something really, really bad. If they're arrested and imprisoned on some bogus or victimless or trumped-up charge just because the supply of prison labor is insufficient, then that would be a different thing entirely.

 

[Revoltingest]

Only if they're really guilty of doing something really, really bad. If they're arrested and imprisoned on some bogus or victimless or trumped-up charge just because the supply of prison labor is insufficient, then that would be a different thing entirely.

If bogus or victimless, why should they even be in prison?
That seems a deflection from the issue of pay or no pay.

 

[Stevicus]

If bogus or victimless, why should they even be in prison?
That seems a deflection from the issue of pay or no pay.

They shouldn't be in prison. That's the whole point. It's not a deflection, since you said "Lack of fair wages is just another punishment." My argument to that is that the punishment must be commensurate with the crime.

 

[The Hammer]

Though I've heard that a good way to get out is to try to get the job of taking care of the bloodhounds.

Just take care of "Ol' Red"?

Edit: Ol Red - Blake Shelton

 

[Stevicus]

Just take care of "Ol' Red"?

Edit: Ol Red - Blake Shelton

"Love got me in here and love got me out."

 

[The Hammer]

Where is all the math?
You know, how much it costs to house, clothe, feed, provide medical for, etc. an inmate?
How many hours said inmate works a week.
Hourly rate of inmate

Don't really care to do the math. You want to? Go ahead.

I also don't care how much it costs.

You don't make people work hard labor as punishment, on top of already being punished by being in prison.

 

[The Hammer]

Where is all the math?
You know, how much it costs to house, clothe, feed, provide medical for, etc. an inmate?
How many hours said inmate works a week.
Hourly rate of inmate

I am also concerned about all the big name records profit setting companies cutting costs by using prison labor. Then we turn round and tell other countries we won't buy their prison made goods.

What's good for the goose and all that.

 

[The Hammer]

How Much Does It Cost To House a Prison Inmate? - Prison Inside

Curious about the cost to house a prison inmate? The answer varies depending on the state, but it can be upwards of $30,000 per year.

prisoninside.com

"The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. As of 2020, there were around 1.8 million people in state and federal prisons and local jails across the country. "

 

[Soandso]

Prison is supposed to be punishment for crimes.
Productive work is at least useful. Ideally, it should
also rehabilitate.

I wonder how rehabilitation of prisoners from countries that utilize state enforced slavery stacks up against those that don't?

 

[libre]

Why should they be paid?

If prisons are for profit, it provides incentive for the government to lock more people up.