Prisons are a world of their own with a social and economic system that utilizes their population, the prisoners. The severity and intensity of prisoners’ rehabilitation is a controversial topic. There is a long standing history of neglect and abuse of power, victimizing the physical and mental health of inmates. This corrupt and inhumane prison system is perpetuated by the labor system, its profits garnering support from various corporations and organizations. The labor system was built not to rehabilitate, but to exploit prisoners in the interest of business whilst preying on marginalized communities. While the labor system may have been created with the intent to rehabilitate, it has since been repurposed to provide a source of cheap labor
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Some tasks include sewing, cooking, laundry, janitorial work, and more (Source D). All this work done by prisoners is of little costs to the companies who employed the prison. Companies such as AT&T, Walmart, Macy’s and more have been known to use prison labor in the past (Source B). This was in cooperation with the organization, ALEC, who have invested much of their time, effort, and money into the prison systems. ALEC and many of their partners have created a profitable business using prisons and their system of labor. Mass production takes place within prisons, creating the necessary goods for partnered companies who invest in the prison. Meanwhile, the prisoners themselves gain nothing of monetary value. In America, a “criminal owes all his labor to society” as a form of repentance (Source C). In the system of labor, only the prison and companies stand to gain. This one-sided business offers no experience or motivation to prisoners. The true element of rehabilitation are the punishments for failing to follow the …show more content…
Though blacks make up only 13% of the U.S. population, 40% of the prison population are black (Source E). This racial disparity is a systemized result from laws passed by the government. Mass incarceration began with the implementation of “law and order,” the government announcing a war on drugs. However, a racial disparity became evident as possession of crack cocaine held a more severe sentence that of pure cocaine (Source B). This differentiation effectively criminalized more African Americans since crack cocaine was more prominent in their communities due to its low price. Cocaine was more of a city problem, used by wealthy whites who received lighter punishments. Soon, hundreds of thousands of African Americans were incarcerated, subjected to the mandatory minimum sentence for minor offenses. These are the victims that prisons and businesses profit off of through the labor system. Prisons exploit the 13th Amendment, employing involuntary servitude and treatment akin to slavery under the guise “as a punishment for crime.” (Source F) Black prisoners have effectively been dehumanized; unable to pay bail or risk trial, many have resorted to the plea bargain to shorten their sentence. Prisons are said to break down prisoners in only thirty days, their mental health and stability
Some tasks include sewing, cooking, laundry, janitorial work, and more (Source D). All this work done by prisoners is of little costs to the companies who employed the prison. Companies such as AT&T, Walmart, Macy’s and more have been known to use prison labor in the past (Source B). This was in cooperation with the organization, ALEC, who have invested much of their time, effort, and money into the prison systems. ALEC and many of their partners have created a profitable business using prisons and their system of labor. Mass production takes place within prisons, creating the necessary goods for partnered companies who invest in the prison. Meanwhile, the prisoners themselves gain nothing of monetary value. In America, a “criminal owes all his labor to society” as a form of repentance (Source C). In the system of labor, only the prison and companies stand to gain. This one-sided business offers no experience or motivation to prisoners. The true element of rehabilitation are the punishments for failing to follow the …show more content…
Though blacks make up only 13% of the U.S. population, 40% of the prison population are black (Source E). This racial disparity is a systemized result from laws passed by the government. Mass incarceration began with the implementation of “law and order,” the government announcing a war on drugs. However, a racial disparity became evident as possession of crack cocaine held a more severe sentence that of pure cocaine (Source B). This differentiation effectively criminalized more African Americans since crack cocaine was more prominent in their communities due to its low price. Cocaine was more of a city problem, used by wealthy whites who received lighter punishments. Soon, hundreds of thousands of African Americans were incarcerated, subjected to the mandatory minimum sentence for minor offenses. These are the victims that prisons and businesses profit off of through the labor system. Prisons exploit the 13th Amendment, employing involuntary servitude and treatment akin to slavery under the guise “as a punishment for crime.” (Source F) Black prisoners have effectively been dehumanized; unable to pay bail or risk trial, many have resorted to the plea bargain to shorten their sentence. Prisons are said to break down prisoners in only thirty days, their mental health and stability