We examined the injustices of prison labor nationwide — and lay the foundation for a more equitable path forward.

Any Country that mandates that Prisoners work for little or no pay while incarcerated is supporting institutionalized Slavery.

I’m putting the ACLU argument forward as the Pro position as it is very well written and touches on all the points that I would simply be restating.

Have fun!

  • Hastur@sh.itjust.worksMEnglish
    0·
    1 year ago

    Hmmm that’s an interesting topic, thanks for bringing this upz it’s something I never thought about.

    So without thinking this through just eyeballing it here’s my take;

    Prisons are expensive and the inmate needs to still make up for his crimes. Also being imprisoned without any kind of productive activity could have negative impact on mind and body.

    Now there need to be sone rules:

    • Additional qualification or study that are beneficial for the resocialisation and could lead to higher future income or better chance of getting a job should have priority.
    • Pay should be fair and reasonable, the pay should be split in a fair way is the inmate needs to pay for his crimes (restitution etc). There must be a minimum remainder for the inmate so they have money available while imprisoned and the rest should be made available when they are released.
    • Working conditions, breaks, OSHA etc needs to be on par with the standards outside of prison.

    Now is enforcing labour still considered slavery? Could be but at least in Europe you lose some (not all) human rights when you’ve been sentenced to prison so it’s acceptable.

    Now one disclaimer: This is with only theoretical knowledge about prisons on western Europe. The US prison system is something else all together.

    • burntbutterbiscuits@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      The problem with you starting the debate like this is that you are glossing over the fact that is prisons are inhumane shithouses that actively engage in slavery.

      The fact you are making these stipulations shows that the debate is starting off so far from what is happening in reality that no good will come of the debate so it’s pointless to engage further.