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Leftists really like to point out that the American police system has deep roots in the paid slave catchers that would return escaped slaves in free states to their masters. And the fact that America never actually abolished slavery, just made it contingent on being punishment for a crime.

Stories like this make you wonder if they're right.

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Really? That's certainly not something I generally hear. You can levy a lot of complaints against police systems, especially the a few of the more infamous departments. But that one seems like it's pushing a bit to make a specific connection.

The United States "abolished" slavery in the 13th amendment of its Constitution; however, the amendment explicitly makes an exception for punishment for crime.

Text of the 13th amendment of the United States Constitution, Section 1 (emphasis mine):

> Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

It's really not pushing it when it says so right there.

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