‘Slavery by any name is wrong’: the push to end unpaid labor in prisons

A nationwide movement hopes to close the slavery loophole' that enables the exploitation of 800,000 prisoners in the US

When prison reformer Johnny Perez was incarcerated he made sheets, underwear and pillowcases working for Corcraft, a manufacturing division of New York State Correctional Services that uses prisoners to manufacture products for state and local agencies. His pay ranged between 17 cents and 36 cents an hour.

We have a system that forces people to work and not only forces them to work but does not give them an adequate living wage," said Perez. Slavery by any name is wrong. Slavery in any shape or form is wrong."