Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(114,960 posts)
Fri Jul 1, 2022, 11:33 AM Jul 2022

Californians won't weigh 'involuntary servitude' amendment

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California will not consider amending its constitution to eliminate indentured servitude as a possible punishment for crime after Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration predicted that it could cost the state billions of dollars to pay minimum wage to prison inmates.

Democratic Sen. Sydney Kamlager said Thursday that she ran out of time and supporters after the measure barring involuntary work without pay last week fell seven votes short of the two-thirds margin it needed in the Senate.

She elected not to bring it back for another try after she said it still lacked support before lawmakers adjourned Thursday for a monthlong summer recess.

“One of the challenges we’ve had is people are conflating policy with a moral argument about taking out words that are historical, that are loaded, that are remnants of a slave past and that were implemented in ways that made people less human,” Kamlager said in an interview.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/californians-won-t-weigh-involuntary-servitude-amendment/ar-AAZ3nY5

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Californians won't weigh 'involuntary servitude' amendment (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jul 2022 OP
It Faux pas Jul 2022 #1
Oops - just wanted to ask a question... Backseat Driver Jul 2022 #2
Most people in California doing community service Mr.Bill Jul 2022 #3
Does room and board count as comp? Lucky Luciano Jul 2022 #4

Faux pas

(15,348 posts)
1. It
Fri Jul 1, 2022, 12:02 PM
Jul 2022

already costs California $106,131 per year to house an inmate. When I worked for Calif Dept of corrections it cost a lot less. I remember it was $80,000 a year for death row inmates, don't remember what it was for regular inmates.

https://lao.ca.gov/policyareas/cj/6_cj_inmatecost#:~:text=It%20costs%20an%20average%20of%20about%20%24106%2C000%20per,increased%20by%20about%20%2457%2C000%20or%20about%20117%20percent.

Backseat Driver

(4,635 posts)
2. Oops - just wanted to ask a question...
Fri Jul 1, 2022, 12:07 PM
Jul 2022

Using that terminology I'd imagine would be over the cliff expensive were to it be construed to also negate sentences that included Community Service - not just incarcerated prisoners who are in work programs in which products are produced that pay little to nothing. CA also has Community Service programs for lower-level civil/criminal punishments, yes?

Mr.Bill

(24,771 posts)
3. Most people in California doing community service
Fri Jul 1, 2022, 03:18 PM
Jul 2022

are assigned to non-profit organizations.

For the most part, the people who are against convicts doing productive work like working on the roads, etc., are the labor unions.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»California»Californians won't weigh ...