Florida depends on exploited incarcerated workers for Hurricane Helene recovery support

Florida is once again turning to forced prison labor for essential public services. This time the state needs help clearing debris following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently boasted the use of what he called “low-security inmates” to manage cleanup operations. But how does the Sunshine State treat the people who are providing this critical service?

Trapped in debt as Florida saves money

As Florida recovers from Hurricane Helene, Governor DeSantis extolled the state’s use of prison labor as a cost-saving measure.

CL Tampa Bay reports,

DeSantis said the state is saving money by engaging prison inmates with cleanup work instead of private contractors. He said debris cleanup “is a very difficult thing.”

“But, this debris, we’re utilizing our resources,” DeSantis said. “We’ve got low-security inmates that are out there who do normal prison labor, the Department of Corrections is bringing them to help with hurricane cleanup. So now they’re out there cleaning up in the debris, which would cost us way more money if you had to do that through some of these private contractors.”

However, the Governor did not mention that the very people his state depends on for critical support endure conditions that strip them of their dignity and force them to work in situations akin to modern slavery.

Florida’s forced prison labor problem

Human rights advocates have criticized Florida’s deadly prison labor system for decades.  With the third largest prison system in the U.S., Florida relies heavily on forced labor to keep its facilities running and support various government agencies. The state compels approximately 80,000 incarcerated persons across 128 prisons, including 20 work camps, to perform a range of jobs without pay.  Workers face potential loss of contact with families, solitary confinement, and sometimes even physical abuse if they refuse.

Worse yet, in Florida, persons are charged $50 per day for the duration of their sentence — no matter how long they actually end up staying in prison. What this means is that many face crushing debt on release, further trapping them in cycles of poverty and increasing their vulnerability to exploitation.

Ending prison slavery in the U.S.

The practice of exploiting prison labor has deep historical roots in the U.S. and is tied to the exception clause in the 13th Amendment, which permits slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime.

For years, the Freedom United community has been calling for an end to forced prison labor in the U.S.  It’s past time to address and eliminate forced labor in all its forms, delivering justice to all.

Help us make slavery a thing of the past. Join the movement today.