LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The United States abolished slavery except as a punishment of a crime in 1865 with the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
Nevada‘s Constitution also still includes that exception. A “yes” vote on Nevada Ballot Question 4 removes it.
Proponents believe that will open the door to a new way of thinking about inmate labor.
Question 4 reads:
“Shall the Ordinance of the Nevada Constitution and the Nevada Constitution be amended to remove language authorizing the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment?”
Supporters believe the voters’ answer applies to more than just wording.
“Question 4 is a constitutional referendum process that allows the people of Nevada to determine whether slavery, and involuntary servitude will continue to be legal as a punishment for a crime,” said Dennis Febo.
Febo is the Lead Organizer with the Abolish Slavery National Network. It advocates for all states to remove all references to slavery from all of their constitutions and lobbies for prison reform.
Febo said the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, but didn’t end the practice immediately.
“The exception clause was inserted as a means to protect labor, especially in the South, after the passage of the 13th Amendment where convict leasing was used to rebuild economy of the South,” Febo added.
The Nevada Constitution says:
“There shall be in this state neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the punishment for crimes, whereof the party shall have been convicted.”
A “yes” vote would remove the punishment reference.
“Slavery and involuntary servitude shouldn‘t be necessary for justice to be justice,” said Febo. “And most of us don’t know that the products that we use and the food that we eat were made or packaged by people who were working for 83 cents a day on average.”
But Febo believes Question 4 helps Nevada reform its prison labor system by removing references to slavery and ending exceptions for inmates.
“Here we‘re saying it didn’t end. It just transformed. We understand the legality and the language and now’s the time to end it,” he said.
The Abolish Slavery National Network believes Question 4’s passage would lead to lawsuits that ultimately lead to better pay for the inmate workforce.
Febo said the end of forced labor would allow incarcerated people to help support their families and help with their transition back into the working world after their release.
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