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Modern-Day Slavery in America’s Prison Workforce
Loaded on Sept. 19, 2014
by Beth Schwartzapfel
published in Prison Legal News
September, 2014, page 1
Why can’t we embrace the idea that prisoners have labor rights?
by Beth Schwartzapfel
Laurie Hazen has bad taste in men. “They’re my downfall,” the 41-year-old jokes in her Massachusetts accent. “I have to really stay single.” An ex-boyfriend first introduced her to prescription drugs, she says, …
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More from this issue:
- Some States Refuse to Implement SORNA, Lose Federal Grants
- Volunteers Help Prisoners Vote at D.C. Jail
- Some GPS Monitoring Devices Capable of Audio Recording, by Christopher Zoukis
- Indiana Supreme Court Holds Agreed Court Order with Prosecutor is Binding on DOC, by Matthew Clarke
- Incarceration is Excusable Default in New York Housing Court Proceeding, by Mark Wilson
- Recidivism Performance Measures for Private Halfway Houses in Pennsylvania, by Alex Friedmann
- Modern-Day Slavery in America’s Prison Workforce, by Beth Schwartzapfel
- South Florida Landlord Bucks Trend, Offers Housing to Sex Offenders
- $2.85 Million Jury Verdict for Suicide at Missouri Jail, by Derek Gilna
- New York Judge Unseals Attica Prison Riot Records – Sort of, by Joe Watson
- Prison Labor Boosts Wal-Mart’s Profits Despite Pledge, by Derek Gilna
- Courts Struggle with Child Pornography Restitution Following Supreme Court Ruling
- Fifth Circuit: “Mailbox Rule” Applies to Texas State Habeas Petitions
- Texas: Clerk May Not Bill Defendant for Attorney Fees Not Ordered by Court, by Matthew Clarke
- Fifth Circuit Holds Prison Guard’s Injury-Causing Reckless Driving States Nonfrivolous Claim, by Matthew Clarke
- Fourth Circuit Finds PLRA Attorney Fee Cap Constitutional, by David Reutter
- Eighth Circuit Holds No SORNA Registration Requirement after Leaving U.S., by Matthew Clarke
- Alabama DOC Short Hair Policy Does Not Violate RLUIPA, by David Reutter
- First Circuit Dismisses Appeal of Court’s Failure to Sanction Federal Prosecutor, by Matthew Clarke
- Eighth Circuit Upholds Injunction Over Cameras in Restrooms at Civil Commitment Center, by Matthew Clarke
- Former New Mexico State Senator Released from Prison
- Transferred Prisoner May Sue Oklahoma Officials in Oregon Court, by Mark Wilson
- Eleventh Circuit Tailors Turner for Censorship Claims at Civil Commitment Center, by David Reutter
- Seventh Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Suit Over Placement on Suicide Watch, by Matthew Clarke
- Alabama Work Release Transportation, Medical and Drug Screen Costs Not “Incidental to Confinement”, by David Reutter
- Fifth Circuit: Prisoner Who was Raped May Proceed with Lawsuit against Lock Company, by Matthew Clarke
- Massachusetts: Acquittal on Additional Sex Offense Doesn’t Trigger Reevaluation of Sex Offender Classification, by Matthew Clarke
- BOP Criticized for Failing to Oversee Healthcare Administrator at FCC Butner, by Derek Gilna
- New Report Cites Fewer HIV-Positive State and Federal Prisoners, by Matthew Clarke
- Selection and Retention Process for Tennessee Appellate Court Judges Challenged, by Christopher McWhorter
- Sentence Reductions for “Snitching” Undermine U.S. Justice System, by Derek Gilna
- Settlement Opens Georgia Courtrooms to the Public, by David Reutter
- Do Residency Bans Drive Sex Offenders Underground?, by Steven Yoder
- CCA Has Long History of Wage Violations, Poor Treatment of Employees
- Private Debt Collection Companies Contract with District Attorney’s Offices, by David Reutter
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Texas: Unconstitutional to Revoke Probation Due to Refusal to Self-Incriminate During Polygraph or Therapy, by Matthew Clarke
- News in Brief
More from Beth Schwartzapfel:
- Amid ‘Catastrophic’ Shortage, Psychologists Flee Federal Prisons in Droves, Feb. 1, 2026
- Omicron Has Arrived. Many Prisons and Jails Are Not Ready., Feb. 1, 2022
- These Meds Prevent Overdoses. Few Federal Prisoners Are Getting Them, Sept. 1, 2021
- When Going to Jail Means Giving Up the Meds that Saved Your Life, Sept. 5, 2019
- Out of Prison, Uncovered, May 5, 2017
- Life Without Parole, Aug. 31, 2015
- Modern-Day Slavery in America’s Prison Workforce, Sept. 19, 2014
- This Valentine’s Lingerie Is Brought to You By the Prison Industrial Complex, April 15, 2009
More from these topics:
- Seventh Circuit Holds Federal Law Prohibits County Jail from Forcing Immigration Detainees to Perform Custodial Labor by Threatening Solitary Confinement, Aug. 1, 2026. Prison Labor, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Immigration Detention, Monell Liability.
- SCOTUS Shuts Down GEO Group Bid for Immunity in Suit by Colorado ICE Detainees, July 1, 2026. GEO Group/Wackenhut, Prison Labor, Sovereign Immunity, Interlocutory Appeals, Immigration Detention.
- Colorado Ordered to Stop Tossing Prisoners in Solitary for Refusing to Work, July 1, 2026. Prison Labor, Injunctions, Good Time, Constitution, state, Administrative Detention/Segregation.
- Federal Judge Upholds Infamously Brutal Farm Labor at Angola Prison, June 1, 2026. Racial Discrimination, Prison Labor, Exposure to Heat, Cruel and Unusual Punishment, Deliberate Indifference.
- Constitutional Challenge to Louisiana Prison “Farm Line” Granted Class Certification, March 1, 2026. Prison Labor, Exposure to Heat, Injunctions (PLRA), Class Certification, Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Incarcerated Women Featured in True Crime Media Face Flood of Sexual Harassment, March 1, 2026. Sexual Harassment, Prison Labor, Hygiene Supplies, Mail, TV/Movies.
- Missouri Prisoners Forced to Shovel Snow in Subzero Temperatures, Feb. 1, 2026. Retaliatory Segregation, Prison Labor, Work Conditions/Safety, Exposure to Cold, Administrative Detention/Segregation.
- Labor Coalition in Minnesota Demands Disney Contractor Pay Prisoners Minimum Wage, Jan. 1, 2026. Prison Industries, Prison Labor, Advocacy, Contractor Liability, jobs.
- Wisconsin DOC Is Not Tracking Work Release Data, Jan. 1, 2026. Work Release, Prison Labor, Statistics/Trends, Fair Labor Standards Act.
- How I Learned to Transcribe Braille in Prison, Jan. 1, 2026. Prison Labor, Education, Rehabilitation/Recidivism, jobs.

