WHEREAS Section 25 of the KY Constitution permits slavery and involuntary servitude for those who have been convicted of a crime; and
WHEREAS slavery and involuntary servitude are crimes against humanity; and
WHEREAS there are a growing number of innovative justice initiatives that demonstrate General Assembly interest in creating more humane conditions for those serving time; and
WHEREAS the KY Department of Corrections mission is to treat all people in detention centers safely, securely, and humanely; and
WHEREAS innocent families of people involved in incarceration practices continue to experience diminished mental and physical health, PTSD, and shortened life expectancy as a result of detention center practices; and
WHEREAS whole communities are negatively affected in life expectancy, economic health, and public health,
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT
WHEREAS slavery and involuntary servitude are crimes against humanity; and
WHEREAS there are a growing number of innovative justice initiatives that demonstrate General Assembly interest in creating more humane conditions for those serving time; and
WHEREAS the KY Department of Corrections mission is to treat all people in detention centers safely, securely, and humanely; and
WHEREAS innocent families of people involved in incarceration practices continue to experience diminished mental and physical health, PTSD, and shortened life expectancy as a result of detention center practices; and
WHEREAS whole communities are negatively affected in life expectancy, economic health, and public health,
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT
- the Kentucky Department of Corrections (KDOC), in consultation with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, All of Us or None Louisville, Formerly Incarcerated Individuals, the Kentucky Jailer’s Association, and Abolish Slavery KY shall conduct a study on the impact of the exception clause and the ramifications of removing of it from Section 25 of the Kentucky Constitution, including:
- Historical context of the clause and its application in Kentucky;
- Economic and social impacts of forced or coerced prison labor on incarcerated individuals and their families;
- Economic impact of paying minimum wage to incarcerated people and/or allowing them to benefit from their labor in other ways.
- Comparative analysis of states that have already abolished similar clauses (e.g., Colorado, Nebraska, Utah);
- Study of different approaches to punishment taken by other states and other nations, including pilot studies
- These same agencies will make recommendations
- For constitutional amendment language
- For implementation strategies including possible changes in policy and procedure relevant to conviction, custody, and release
- For regulations to protect people who have been convicted of a crime from financial and labor exploitation in order to ensure that they can re-enter society without undue burdens