A Minnesota proposal is in the works that supporters say would end forced labor in correctional facilities.
They note the 13th Amendment was adopted nearly 160 years ago, but believe a form of slavery is still present in America's prisons. Advocacy groups point to wording in the Minnesota Constitution that there should be no slavery in the state, with exceptions for punishment for a crime. They say incarcerated people are exploited by having to work for 50 cents an hour, providing them little money to pay victims back, support their families or have resources to rebuild their lives post-release.
Aaron Ernst, who served time in Minnesota, said this overshadows other reforms.
"The rehabilitation part is kind of there," he said, "and then the reconnection to the community is just nonexistent."
While incarcerated, Ernst said he was outsourced for municipal work but would have had a hard time landing that same job after his release. The End Slavery in Minnesota Coalition is working with lawmakers on a bill for next year's session to classify these individuals as legal workers with specific rights. There are similar efforts elsewhere, but advocates say Colorado's reforms haven't ended the practice there.
By not providing a minimum wage, said David Boehnke, the coalition's lead organizer, they estimate the current pay structure in prisons steals $100 million each year from the poorest Minnesotans.
"If we want a safety system and not a slavery system, this is how we get it - we give people basic rights and basic wages," he said. "That lifts up their whole communities, and that allows people to repair harm they've caused in a meaningful way."
Groups pushing for change add that the longstanding effects of slavery are still found in incarceration numbers. Nearly 40% of people held in Minnesota prisons are Black - despite representing less than 8% of the state's overall population.
In a statement, the Department of Corrections said it's committed to providing work experiences for incarcerated individuals that improve fundamental skills and can lead into opportunities for more technical training. It said that can help create a successful re-entry.
