Solitary Confinement

Solitary confinement is the practice of isolating a person in a small, confined space for an extended period of time. This practice is often used in prisons and other correctional facilities to punish or segregate inmates who have committed serious offenses or who are deemed to be a danger to others. Solitary confinement can have serious psychological and physical effects on inmates, including anxiety, depression, and hallucinations. It can also lead to long-term harm, such as cognitive impairment and social isolation. Solitary confinement has been criticized by human rights groups and others as inhumane and potentially damaging to the well-being of inmates. Some jurisdictions have placed limits on the use of solitary confinement or have banned it altogether.

Slavery rejected in some, not all, states where on ballot
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Slavery rejected in some, not all, states where on ballot

Voters in four states have approved ballot measures that will change their state constitutions to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for crime, while those in a fifth state rejected a flawed version on the question. The measures approved Tuesday could curtail the use of prison labor in Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont. In…

Four States Vote to Ban Prison Labor and the “Slavery Loophole”
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Four States Vote to Ban Prison Labor and the “Slavery Loophole”

In the lead up to the election, pundits strained themselves bending over backwards to claim that Democrats’ focus on so-called “social issues” leaves them out of touch from the everyday concerns “ordinary” people deal with. But surprise: The results of the 2022 midterms prove otherwise. All five states with abortion on the ballot—California, Michigan, Vermont,…

Slavery rejected in some, not all, states where it was on the ballot
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Slavery rejected in some, not all, states where it was on the ballot

Voters in three states approved ballot measures that will change their state constitutions to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for crime, while those in a fourth state rejected the move. The measures approved Tuesday curtail the use of prison labor in Alabama, Tennessee and Vermont. In Oregon, “yes” was leading its anti-slavery ballot initiative, but…

In Dialogue with Malawi, Experts of the Committee against Torture Commend Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking, Ask about Access to Lawyers and the Definition of Torture
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In Dialogue with Malawi, Experts of the Committee against Torture Commend Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking, Ask about Access to Lawyers and the Definition of Torture

The Committee against Torture today concluded its consideration of the initial report of Malawi, with Committee Experts commending efforts to combat human trafficking, and raising questions about access to lawyers and the definition of torture. Anna Racu, Committee Vice Chairperson and Co-Rapporteur for Malawi, said that it was positive that Malawi had adopted the Trafficking…

The bid to close the U.S. ‘slavery loophole’
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The bid to close the U.S. ‘slavery loophole’

Johnny Perez was made to work under threat of punishment, sewing underwear, pillowcases and sheets. He earned between $0.17 and $0.36 per hour for his labor.   Johnny was one of the hundreds of thousands of incarcerated people who are forced to work in the U.S. as a result of a so-called “slavery loophole” created…

Report on Prison Labor: ‘Too Much Drudgery, Not Enough Opportunity’
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Report on Prison Labor: ‘Too Much Drudgery, Not Enough Opportunity’

Illustration by AK Rockefeller via Flickr. The ‘vast majority” of individuals incarcerated in state prisons are forced to work menial jobs for poverty-level pay, according to a new Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) policy brief. As a result, most leave prison poorly qualified to find a job in civilian society that will keep them out of…

Why unions can’t ignore incarcerated workers
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Why unions can’t ignore incarcerated workers

An estimated two thirds of the more than one million prisoners in the United States today are incarcerated workers. With many prisoners earning less than a dollar an hour, and those who refuse to work often facing vicious retaliation in the form of punitive solitary confinement, labor exploitation is an important part of what makes…

Appeals court says prohibition on involuntary servitude not applicable to prison labor
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Appeals court says prohibition on involuntary servitude not applicable to prison labor

Colorado voters who made slavery and involuntary servitude unconstitutional in 2018 did not mean to abolish the state Department of Corrections’ prison labor program, the Court of Appeals ruled last week. A three-judge panel for the appellate court turned away the constitutional challenge of inmate A. Mark Lamar, who argued the general requirement that prisoners…

‘Modern day slavery’: Lawmakers, advocates seek change after Republic prison labor investigation
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‘Modern day slavery’: Lawmakers, advocates seek change after Republic prison labor investigation

Reacting to an investigation by The Arizona Republic and KJZZ, lawmakers and advocates are calling for a review of the state’s use of prison labor. “Forced prison labor is nothing more than modern day slavery, and our state’s growing reliance on this workforce is irresponsible, immoral and inexcusable,” said state Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Glendale. “Any public…

The United States’ Practice of Forced Labor at Home and Abroad: Truth and Facts (Part One)
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The United States’ Practice of Forced Labor at Home and Abroad: Truth and Facts (Part One)

BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) — The United States’ Practice of Forced Labor at Home and Abroad: Truth and Facts August 2022 Introduction Over the years, the United States has concocted the biggest lies of the century such as the so-called “genocide” and “forced labor” in Xinjiang, in an attempt to smear and contain China. It…