The Largest Prison Strike In American History Goes Ignored By US Media

Re:The Largest Prison Strike In American History Goes Ignore... by fleitz on Thursday December 16, 2010 @11:05PM (#2015113)

There are many ways to interpret that statement. One interpretation would go towards that a judge may specify involuntary servitude (eg. community service) as punishment, and another would say that involuntary servitude is implied by the prison sentence.

I'm sure the prisoners take the former interpretation that involuntary servitude was not specified as punishment and thus is unconstitutional.

Also, the 13th amendment absolutely bans slavery, so if you can construe characteristics of ownership then you could make it unconstitutional. Georgia also has a history of abusing the law to keep slavery in all but name going which would negatively impact the states' case in a non-southern court, and would make a good case as to the intent of Georgian legislation being to revive slavery. I mean when they're trying to put the Confederate flag back on their flag it gives a person pause as to the intent of not paying their labor. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,85078,00.html

This is why most states pay their employees in prison a pittance rather than absolutely nothing. It avoids the issue entirely and makes it one of labor law.

Re-education through labor, not just for communists anymore!

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Re:The Largest Prison Strike In American History Goes Ignore... by ynniv on Friday December 17, 2010 @12:25AM (#2015313)

Re-education through labor, not just for communists anymore!

It is also for capitalists. Georgia has a number of privately operated, for profit prisons. (It does not appear that any of them were involved in this strike.)

[ http://www.dcor.state.ga.us/Divisions/Corrections/PrivatePri... ] [ http://www.thegeogroupinc.com/ ] [ http://www.correctionscorp.com/ ]

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Re:The Largest Prison Strike In American History Goes Ignore... by jberryman on Friday December 17, 2010 @12:47AM (#2015364)

Welcome to the Prison-Industrial Complex: it's like slavery but with more rape jokes!

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Re:The Largest Prison Strike In American History Goes Ignore... by salemh on Friday December 17, 2010 @01:26AM (#2015444)

While sarcastic, the state of the "Prison-Industrial" complex reads like a science fiction novel.

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Re:The Largest Prison Strike In American History Goes Ignore... by rbanffy on Friday December 17, 2010 @07:46AM (#2016031)

You know sci-fi is frequently not about predicting the future, but preventing it.

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Re:The Largest Prison Strike In American History Goes Ignore... by bugsy on Friday December 17, 2010 @04:46PM (#2017961)

I agree with your point. The "as" in the term "as a punishment" indicates that it is given explicitly as a punishment, and in lieu of a prison term. Rather than be put in prison, the judge can order you to go work in some capacity without pay, as with community service.

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