Ballot Breakdown: Yes on Prop 6 – Banning Slavery in California Prisons Once and for All
Prop 6 is more than just a legal amendment, but a moral imperative that addresses a deeply racist and exploitative system. By ending involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime, we end California’s exploitative practice, support the rehabilitation of incarcerated individuals, and move toward a more just and equitable society.
Prop 6 brings us closer in our ongoing fight for justice and equality, offering us an opportunity to right a grave historical wrong. By banning slavery once and for all in California, this measure takes powerful action against the legacy of racial oppression deeply embedded in our criminal justice system.
Our Stance: Vote YES
AAPI FORCE and our Steering Committee strongly support Proposition 6, the amendment that eliminates the constitutional provision allowing involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime. This measure is a crucial step towards ending a deeply rooted racist practice that continues to exploit incarcerated individuals, particularly Black, Latinx, Native and AAPI Californians.
What is Prop 6?
Proposition 6 seeks to amend the California Constitution to abolish the practice of involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime. If passed, Prop 6 would [1]:
Prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime
Authorize the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to award credits [2] to incarcerated persons who voluntarily participate in work assignments
How did we get here?
The 13th Amendment, while abolishing slavery, included an “exception clause” that permitted involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime. This loophole has allowed the continued exploitation of incarcerated people, who are disproportionately Black and brown, in a system that profits billions of dollars from their labor each year. Last year alone in California, over 65% of incarcerated individuals reported being compelled to work, often in critical roles like firefighting or road paving, for meager wages that typically don't exceed $1 per hour. Despite the essential nature of this work, those who refuse are subject to discipline, and even those who participate often face barriers to employment after release [3].
Proposition 6 aims to rectify this injustice by giving incarcerated individuals the choice to work without fear of retaliation and by recognizing the value of their labor through credits that could aid in their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
How will Prop 6 benefit our communities?
Prop 6 is more than just a legal amendment, but a moral imperative that addresses a deeply racist and exploitative system. Prop 6 will:
End Forced Labor: By removing the exception clause, Prop 6 will ensure that no one in California is subjected to involuntary servitude, bringing our state closer to true justice and equality for all.
Support Rehabilitation: The measure will incentivize voluntary participation in work programs, which can greatly help the rehabilitation and future employability of incarcerated individuals.
Advance Racial Justice: With African American men making up 28% of California's prison population despite representing less than 6% of the overall population, Prop 6 will help dismantle a practice that disproportionately harms Black communities and communities of color [4].
Proposition 6 represents a significant step forward in the fight for racial and social justice in California. By voting yes, we end a practice rooted in slavery, support the rehabilitation of incarcerated individuals, and move toward a more just and equitable society.
[1] Ballotpedia.
[2] Credits refer to a system that CDCR uses to incentivize good behavior among incarcerated individuals.
[3] https://aclucalaction.org/bill/aca-8/
[4] https://www.ppic.org/publication/californias-prison-population/