No state has a longer, more profit-driven history of contracting prisoners out to private companies than Alabama.

Summary

Alabama profits from a vast prison labor system, earning over $250 million since 2000 by leasing incarcerated workers to private companies like McDonald’s and Home Depot.

While inmates earn at least $7.25/hour, the state deducts 40% plus additional fees, leaving many with only $100-$200 weekly.

Inmates working outside prisons face risks, including unsafe conditions and lack of oversight, leading to fatalities like a recent van crash that killed two prisoners.

Critics argue this system exploits incarcerated workers, many denied parole despite holding jobs deemed too dangerous for release.

Advocates call for fair pay, workplace rights, and reform.

  • Chemical Wonka@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    0·
    2 天前

    I am not against a condemned to work, in my understanding he/she should somehow try to repair society for the damage he/she committed, but not working in the private sector to generate profit for shareholders

    • MutilationWave@lemmy.world
      0·
      2 天前

      13th amendment says that slavery’s abolished.

      Except for people convicted of a crime.

      It’s not veiled at all. And with the state taking 40% of their minimum wage, they’re still doing better than most prison slaves.

  • crystalmerchant@lemmy.world
    0·
    2 天前

    Amendment 13:

    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.

    And we wonder how America is just so, so, so great.

    • teamevil@lemmy.world
      0·
      2 天前

      Yeah but I think in that instance it’s meant to pay restitution off at some level VS being denied parole so you can exploit their labor

      Edit: also SUPER fucked that their is a private entity profiting off this instead of the profits being added to the local community.

    • w3dd1e@lemm.ee
      0·
      2 天前

      Oh also, it did say they were paid min wage (which is basically slave wages anyway). It’s the state that garnishes their pay.

      I just want to be exact when I rage against the machine.

    • w3dd1e@lemm.ee
      0·
      2 天前

      There were a lot of companies listed in the article. I was surprised this was such a wide practice. It’s really icky.

      Burger King, Home Depot, and KFC were on the list just ti name a few major ones.

      There were also a lot of local businesses too. I recommend everyone look at the list.

        • w3dd1e@lemm.ee
          0·
          2 天前

          It’s in the article. There’s a searchable table you can sort by labor hours.

      • MutilationWave@lemmy.world
        0·
        2 天前

        For anyone who needs tools, hardware, building materials, etc - I encourage you to check local hardware stores first, then Lowe’s or Menard’s, and use Home Depot as a last resort. Home Depot not only does this, but donates huge amounts of money to Christian conversion therapy bullshit.

        I lost a double sided bit for my favorite screwdriver. Home Depot is the only place that sells it. Instead I bought a different brand bit at Lowe’s and drilled a hole in my driver to hold it properly.

  • Ghostface@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    2 天前

    Hmmm, so on one hand, is working at McDonald’s as bad prison jobs? Or the irony of not being hired post release at McDonald’s even though possibly 5 - 10 yrs of experience

    • Chozo@fedia.io
      0·
      3 天前

      I think that’s usually the case for prisoners with jobs inside the prison. Cleaning, cooking, maintenance, etc, are often done for pennies by other inmates.

      Since this is a third-party employer from the “outside”, I imagine they still have to pay something closer to minimum wage, even if the prison does take a huge cut of it.

      • abigscaryhobo@lemmy.world
        0·
        2 天前

        Yep, because theyre actually being “employed” the businesses have to adhere to labor law for minimum wage, but the prison can use loopholes and exploits to take that money from them or skim off the top. When they’re working in the prison the legal lines are intentionally blurry on if they’re actually “employed” or not

  • WatDabney@sopuli.xyz
    0·
    3 天前

    There’s a mistake in this headline.

    It should read:

    “Alabama profits off prisoners who work at McDonald’s, therefore deems them too dangerous for parole.”