When the 13th amendment was ratified, it included specific language to allow private interests to continue using slavery for profit.

This has allowed private interests to invest in politicians to vote for stricter sentencing laws. Private prisons are built because barons can get rich off the massive amount of people now going to prison for non-violent crimes. The state pays them to house prisoners and it's gotten to the point where private prisons can sue the state for lost profit. Yes, they can sue the state for not convicting enough people.

What does this have to do with the 13th amendment? Well, every state in our country has some sort of prison labor program where inmates are given compulsory work. Most of these programs make products that can only be purchased by the state, but some large private companies hire prison laborers to make products or provide services. This work is provided at a fraction of the profit with workers making $1-$1.50 an hour, that pay is still taxed and if you have debt another cut is taken from that.In short, it is more profitible to hire workers who can't refuse work for less pay.

We live in a unique situation at the moment as the coronavirus has brought our country and the world to a halt. Most states and counties have taken precautions by letting out prisoners early for age, parole, or nearing the end of their sentence. Yet, the outbreak has still reached prisons and taken lives. New York has prisoners hired to dig mass graves and produce thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer for less than minimum wage. So even in this crisis, prisoners find themselves vulnerable more than ever as prison labor might take up work where our "free" citizens can't.

Our country has more people in prison that any other country. The purpose is class control and profit. While these laws might appear to be for the benefit of the public, they are for the benefit of business. We need to abolish mandatory minumum sentences and cut funding to private prisons in state budgets. We have the power to put people in office to realize this mission. We have the power to convince our elected officials to take a stance and choose empathy. Dehumanizing criminals allows us to treat them as less than, and unworthy of equality.

Contact Your Representatives

Ask them to abolish mandatory minimum sentences!

National Governor' Office Addresses and Websites This page does not include email information but it does list websites where your governor should have that information.

United States House of Representatives You can find your congressperson by entering thier zip.

United States Senate Choose your state and ways to contact either senator.