{"id":2355351,"date":"2024-10-15T18:04:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-15T22:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-and-nevada-will-vote-on-ending-forced-labor-for-prisoners-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-10-15T18:06:34","modified_gmt":"2024-10-15T22:06:34","slug":"california-and-nevada-will-vote-on-ending-forced-labor-for-prisoners-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-and-nevada-will-vote-on-ending-forced-labor-for-prisoners-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"California and Nevada will vote on ending forced labor for prisoners &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-and-nevada-will-vote-on-ending-forced-labor-for-prisoners-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2355351&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Voters in\u200b California and Nevada will have\u2063 the opportunity to vote in November on constitutional amendments \u200daimed at ending forced labor for prisoners. Although the 13th Amendment bans slavery and involuntary servitude, it permits \u200bsuch practices as punishment for convicted individuals, meaning prisoners often earn only a \u200dfraction of minimum wage\u2014sometimes as little as 35 cents per \u2062hour. This inadequate compensation leaves many prisoners unable to afford basic necessities.<\/p>\n<p>In \u200dNevada, inmates are required to work 40 hours\u200b a \u200bweek, with potential consequences,\u2064 including loss of\u2063 visitation rights, for those\u2064 who refuse. California mandates\u200d that prisoners engage either \u2064in work or rehabilitative programs. A previous legislative attempt in California to require minimum wage\u2062 for prison labor was rejected in 2022 due\u2062 to the projected financial burden of approximately $1.5\u2064 billion. \u2064However, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law in 2023 to prepare for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-watershed-moment-black-faith-leaders-urge-ohioans-to-stand-for-life-reject-abortion-ballot-measure\/\" title=\"Black faith leaders in Ohio are calling on residents to support life and oppose the abortion ballot measure.\">upcoming ballot measure<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">California and Nevada will vote on amending constitution to end forced labor for prisoners<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1721983\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Voters in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title> California<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nevada\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Nevada<\/a> will decide in November if they want to amend their respective constitutions to end forced labor for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/prison\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>prisoners<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Slavery and involuntary servitude are banned under the 13th Amendment, but there is an exception as a form of punishment for those who have been convicted and imprisoned for a crime.<\/p>\n<p>This means that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/4-intellectuals-who-started-out-liberal-but-ended-up-conservative\/\" title=\"4 Intellectuals Who Started Out Liberal But Ended Up Conservative\">minimum wage laws<\/a> do not apply to them, so they make pennies on the dollar of what nonincarcerated people make. They might struggle to afford basic necessities such as toothpaste or deodorant, according to Freedom Network USA, a nonprofit organization focused on fighting human trafficking.<\/p>\n<p>Freedom Network USA reports that 70% of prisoners cannot afford their basic necessities from their prison wages.<\/p>\n<p>The hourly wage for prisoners to clean prison cells, fight against fires, make license plates, or any number of tasks can be as low as 35 cents per hour.<\/p>\n<p>In Nevada, prisoners are mandated to work 40 hours a week, and refusal to work could subject them to punishments, including losing visitation.<\/p>\n<p>As for California, all prisoners are required to either work, engage in a rehabilitative program, or a combination of both.<\/p>\n<p>In 2022, the California legislature rejected a ballot measure that would mandate that prisoners receive minimum wage for their labor. This was estimated to cost the state&nbsp;$1.5 billion to pay out.<\/p>\n<p>However, in preparation for this ballot measure, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) signed a law this year that would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish a voluntary work program, which would set the wages for people incarcerated. However, it would only take effect if the ballot measure is voted on.<\/p>\n<p>Back in 2018, Colorado became the first state to abolish involuntary servitude and slavery for prisoners with Alabama, Tennessee, Utah, and Nebraska following in its footsteps.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2022\/jun\/15\/us-prison-workers-low-wages-exploited\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>estimated<\/a> that U.S. prisoners produce $11 billion of goods and services to the economy each year.&nbsp; Eighty percent of prisoners do jobs related to prison maintenance.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When you commit serious crimes, you do give up your liberties,&rdquo; said Democratic California state Sen. Steve Glazer <a href=\"https:\/\/calmatters.org\/justice\/2022\/06\/california-prisoners-work-involuntary-servitude\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>said<\/a> in 2022 when negotiating the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nebraska-nevada-minimum-wage-measures-adopted-voters-have-okd-23-straight-since-1998\/\" title=\"Nebraska, Nevada Minimum Wage Measures Adopted; Voters have OK\u2019d 23 Straight Since 1998\">minimum wage measure<\/a>. &ldquo;And part of that liberty is that you have to help in the kitchen, preparing food for everyone, and I don&rsquo;t apologize for that view.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1721983\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1721983\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California and Nevada will vote in November to end prisoner forced labor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2542,"featured_media":2355352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Crime_Arrest_Justice_Prison_jjh5.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32912,4045,21637,5592,10703],"class_list":["post-2355351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ballot-measure","tag-california","tag-forced-labor","tag-nevada","tag-prisoners"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Crime_Arrest_Justice_Prison_jjh5.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2355351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2542"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2355351"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2355351\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2355352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2355351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2355351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2355351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}