Catherwood LibraryILR School

Julius Smith, a prisoner in Florida, participates in Aramark's In2Work program, making premium meals without compensation, despite promises of payment. A recent court ruling upheld that Aramark and Alameda County aren't subject to state minimum wage laws, reflecting a broader issue where prisoners generate substantial economic value but receive little or no pay. This situation is underpinned by the 13th Amendment, which allows for slavery as criminal punishment. Smith describes the grueling conditions and financial exploitation in prison, where inmates incur daily incarceration fees and must pay for basic necessities, deepening their financial hardship upon release. Efforts to abolish forced prison labor face significant political resistance at both state and federal levels, despite some local successes.