The Rev Dr. Rick SchlosserIMPACT’s Recommendation: SUPPORT
ACA 8 (Resolution Chapter 133, Statutes of 2024) Wilson. Slavery.
Slavery was abolished federally in the 13th Amendment and in the California Constitution with the same exception for those serving time in prison. This California Constitutional Amendment seeks a redress to the state standard. It prohibits slavery or involuntary servitude under all circumstances. This is important in light of events in other states using inmates for unpaid work in both state facilities and now in private businesses with the state taking their wages. This Constitutional Amendment states that no inmate can be penalized for refusing work, and that the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may offer credits for work voluntarily accepted. The specific forms of “credits” is not specified — be they time removed from the sentence or cash. CA does pay inmates for what work they do, including firefighting, all of it voluntary, but it’s less than $1 per hour. Cash received by inmates via family, etc. goes to their fines and obligations. That would likely be true of cash income, where credits toward reduced time would not. This appears to give both prisons and inmates some choice of remuneration. If any prison facility rejects the plan, no inmate can be penalized for refusing work. This is far from an adequate revision of all prison practices, but it appears to be a very good start.
CA Secretary of State site: Arguments for and against Prop 6: https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/6/index.htm