Gross.

"That mass incarceration would create a huge captive workforce was anticipated long before the US prison population reached its peak—and at a time when the concept of “rehabilitation” was still considered part of the mission of prisons."

Are we finally admitting that that's no longer (never really was) a thing? Now maybe we can start to take responsibility for bolstering corporations that actively work to incarcerate people for profit?

How is this different than slavery? Oh, if they're paid $0.20/hr they're not slaves?

Edit: as pointed out below, the 13th Amendment says prisoners can be slaves. I hadn't considered it in that context.