RAB Source Entry #1 – Gilbert

Part 1: MLA Citation

Sainato, Michael. “‘Slavery by Any Name Is Wrong’: the Push to End Forced Labor in Prisons.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 27 Sep. 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/27/slavery-loophole-unpaid-labor-in-prisons.

Part 2: Summary

The article titled “Involuntary Servitude: How Prison Labor is Modern Day Slavery” by Michael Sainato talks about how the prison system in the United States exploits incarcerated workers for cheap or free labor. The article delves deep into how private companies benefit from this labor, creating a system of modern-day slavery. Sainato highlights the case of CoreCivic, a private prison company, and how they utilize the labor of inmates to generate profits. The article also mentions how the loophole in the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution allows for the use of prisoners for forced labor.

Part 3: Reflection / Rhetorical Analysis

Reflection:

After reading this article, I’ve learned about the disheartening reality of prison labor and the exploitation of incarcerated individuals in the US. The author’s use of specific examples, such as CoreCivic, helps to shed light on how private companies are benefiting from this system of exploitation. This article has made me reflect on the ethical concerns surrounding the use of prison labor and how throughout history it consistently perpetuates a cycle of poverty and inequality. It has also raised questions about the effectiveness of prison, and how it should be a system that focuses on the rehabilitation of inmates instead of exploiting them for financial gain.

Rhetorical Analysis:

After reading the article about the loophole that allows unpaid prison labor, I am shocked and disturbed by the extent to which this practice is still in place in the United States. The article highlighted the fact that prisoners in several states across the country are forced to work for no pay, often in dangerous or hazardous conditions, with little to no legal protections. This practice is exploitative and undermines the simple principle of human rights.

The article made me reflect on the deep-seated structural issues that have led to the normalization of prison labor and how it perpetuates racial and economic inequality. The fact that private companies can benefit from this practice and use it to drive down labor costs is painful for me to remember how capitalism will exploit those who are vulnerable in society for the sake of profit. It raises important questions about the role of prisons in the criminal justice system and how we work  towards a more humane approach to addressing crime and punishment. To generalize, this article highlights the need for systemic change and reform in the prison system to ensure the rights and the dignity of all individuals are protected.

Part 4: Notable Quotables

• “The 13th amendment of the US constitution, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. But it contained an exception for ‘a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted’..” (paragraph 4)
• “A report published by the American Civil Liberties Union in June 2022 found about 800,000 prisoners out of the 1.2 million in state and federal prisons are forced to work, generating a conservative estimate of $11bn annually in goods and services while average wages range from 13 cents to 52 cents per hour. Five states – Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas – force prisoners to work without pay.” (paragraph 6) 
• “…Refusing a work assignment can also have adverse consequences, he said, ranging from being placed in solitary confinement to having any work issues placed on your record which affects parole and status within a prison that determines what privileges you receive. Workers in prison do not get any paid time off and are often forced to work even when sick unless an infirmary affirms they are not able to work.” (paragraph 12)