8. Prison Labor in the 21st Century
Today, prison labor remains embedded in the American justice system, with incarcerated people performing essential and profitable work for state agencies and private corporations. Prisoners often earn just pennies per hour, despite laboring in industries from manufacturing to wildfire fighting. Critics argue that these arrangements perpetuate cycles of exploitation dating back to the post-slavery era. For more on the realities and ethical debates surrounding modern prison labor, visit NPR.
