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Ending Slavery and Involuntary Servitude as Criminal Punishment

This proposal seeks to amend the Constitution to completely ban the use of slavery or involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime. This removes a historical legal loophole that allowed forced labor for incarcerated individuals, strengthening fundamental human rights within the justice system. The change does not affect voluntary prison work programs or court-ordered community service.
Key points
Removes the constitutional exception that currently allows forced labor or servitude as punishment for a crime.
Strengthens the rights of incarcerated individuals by prohibiting the imposition of involuntary work.
Does not interfere with voluntary, high-quality work programs in correctional facilities or court-ordered community service.
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Status: Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_SJRES_33
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Process start date: 2023-06-14
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure — full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source—always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_SJRES_33.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2023-06-14.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Removes the constitutional exception that currently allows forced labor or servitude as punishment for a crime.
  • Strengthens the rights of incarcerated individuals by prohibiting the imposition of involuntary work.
  • Does not interfere with voluntary, high-quality work programs in correctional facilities or court-ordered community service.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-26.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know—that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Courts and Law Labor