Nevada Voters to Decide on Banning Forced Prison Labor

In November, Nevada voters will have the chance to decide whether to remove language from the state constitution that permits forced prison labor, a provision rooted in the legacy of chattel slavery. Nevada Question 2 seeks to revise language in the state constitution related to public entities that benefit individuals with mental illness, blindness, or deafness and protect incarcerated individuals from being compelled to work under the threat of punishment.

Currently, Nevada requires all prisoners—about 10,000 people in the state—to either work or participate in vocational training for 40 hours each week unless they have a medical exemption. Prisoners earn 35 cents an hour for cleaning prison facilities to $24 for fighting wildfires.

The proposed constitutional amendment would abolish slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishment in Nevada. Advocates say it would represent a significant step forward in the fight for human rights and fair labor practices.

Nevada’s ballot initiative is part of a broader national movement to remove similar exceptions for slavery from state constitutions. Several states, including Colorado and Alabama, have passed amendments to eliminate such language. However, critics of the proposed changes have raised concerns about the potential costs to the state if minimum wage laws get extended to incarcerated workers.

Supporters of the measure argue that it would also give incarcerated individuals more opportunities for rehabilitation, allowing them to focus on education and therapy rather than being forced into low-paying labor.