I understand that prisoners, especially felons are denied Constitutional rights but

[Bandit]

are they also denied protection under the LAW? When prisoners are forced into labor at below minimum wage, both Federal and State, is that legal? And how does using prison labor at $.50 and hour comply with Bacon Davis?

[coalition_unwilling]

1. Not an expert in this, but I don't believe any iinmate is 'forced'

to work. If an inmate refuses to work, though, he or she can be placed on lockdown. (This perspective is the result of similar discussions and questions I had in the past on DU.)

[Bandit]

3. No american is "forced" to work, however they are still required to be paid minimum wage..

:shrug: It's the LAW

[coalition_unwilling]

5. I understand where you are coming from and I think we probably

agree that inmates SHOULD be paid the federal minimum wage. But the fact is they are not required to be paid minimum wage and, for the reasons why, I'll defer to my incarceration and constitutional law colleagues.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Prisoners don't lose their constitutional rights -

they have the right not to be subjected to "cruel and unusual punishment." Slavery (involuntary servitude) is also unconstitutional. However, prison labor is not regarded as involuntary servitude, because the Constitution says: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." So under the Constitution prisoners can be required to work as long as that work does not also constitute cruel and unusual punishment. State laws governing wages and hours apply to employees, and prisoners are not regarded as employees. It may suck, but it's legal.

[Bandit]

4. State Laws also require Government Agencies to follow Bacon - Davis

:shrug: And Prisoners do lose some Constitutional Rights even after they are no longer Prisoners.. Rights such as gun ownership and voting...

[tammywammy]

6. "Prisoners do not have a legal entitlement to payment for their work,"

"Prisoners do not have a legal entitlement to payment for their work," said the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco in a 3-0 ruling.

http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-04-12/bay-area/20845684_1_serra-third-tax-conviction-prison

[Exultant Democracy]

7. As long as we have privatized prisons this is inexcusably evil

[kestrel91316]

8. There is no forced labor in prison. Those who CHOOSE to work can be paid virtually

nothing, however. It is perhaps a difference without a distinction.