Alabama Prison Work Programs Are ‘Modern Day Slavery’, Lawsuit Alleges

Must read

Black Information Network
Black Information Network
Black Information Network is the first and only 24/7 national and local all-news audio service dedicated to providing an objective, accurate and trusted source of continual news coverage with a Black voice and perspective. BIN is enabled by the resources, assets and financial support of iHeartMedia and the support of its Founding Partners: Bank of America, CVS Health, GEICO, Lowe’s, McDonald’s USA, Sony, 23andMe and Verizon. BIN is focused on service to the Black community and providing an information window for those outside the community to help foster communication, accountability and deeper understanding. Black Information Network is distributed nationally through the iHeartRadio app and accessible via mobile, smart speakers, smart TVs and other connected platforms, and on dedicated all-news local broadcast AM/FM radio stations. BIN also provides the news service for iHeartMedia’s 106 Hip Hop, R&B and Gospel stations across the country. Please visit www.BINNews.com for more information.
Photo: Getty Images

Current and former inmates have filed a class action lawsuit accusing Alabama’s prison labor program of being a type of “modern-day slavery,” per CBS 42.

According to the lawsuit, inmates in the Alabama prison system are forced to work in jobs that benefit the government or private companies for little to no pay. The lawsuit also alleges that the state maintains a discriminatory parole system with a low release rate to ensure a supply of laborers.

“The forced labor scheme that currently exists in the Alabama prison system is the modern reincarnation of the notorious convict leasing system that replaced slavery after the Civil War,” Janet Herold, the legal director of Justice Catalyst Law, said in a statement.

The lawsuit also cites a “forced labor scheme” that coerces prisoners into work. Unpaid jobs allegedly include tasks that help keep prison facilities running. Inmates may work jobs where businesses pay minimum wage or more, but the prison system keeps 40 percent of the prisoner’s pay to cover the cost of their incarceration. The lawsuit calls the 40 percent takeaway a “labor-trafficking fee.”

“If you didn’t work, you were at risk of going back to the prison or getting a disciplinary (infraction),” LaKiera Walker, who was previously incarcerated for 15 years, said.

According to the suit, the state is violating the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution, anti-human trafficking laws, and the Alabama Constitution through its prison labor program. The state claims that the prison jobs prepare inmates for after their release.

The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.

From the Web

spot_img