"Alabama Prisons Face Lawsuit Over Alleged Inmate Labor Exploitation"

A federal lawsuit has been filed against the State of Alabama, accusing it of denying parole to incarcerated individuals in order to exploit them for free labor, which the plaintiffs argue amounts to "modern day slavery." The lawsuit alleges that the state, along with city governments and private businesses, financially benefit from the labor of inmates, projecting an economic gain of over $450 million in 2023 alone. The suit claims that the parole system is highly discriminatory, favoring white people over Black people for release at a rate of two to one. The defendants, including the Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole, the Alabama Department of Corrections, and Governor Kay Ivey's office, have not publicly commented on the lawsuit.