How is this different than slavery? Oh, if they're paid $0.20/hr they're not slaves?
I think the relevant question is whether the labour is forced. My understanding is that prison workforces are comprised of inmates who request to take part.
I think the relevant question is whether the labour is forced. My understanding is that prison workforces are comprised of inmates who request to take part.
While "voluntary", promising time reductions or other sentencing modifications for either participation directly or "good behavior" indirectly changes the meaning of "voluntary." Add the threat of solitary confinement or other unconscionable punishments for bad behavior (and capable of being used in a punitive or retaliatory fashion by guards and administrators) and "voluntary" becomes even less voluntary.
It's easy to dehumanize prisoners as "lawbreakers" or cast them as people who gave up freedom flippantly. For me, taking advantage of prisoners to bolster private corporate profits - no matter their crime - is not a justifiable thing.