By Daniel J. Simms, Independent Journalist/Author/Podcast Host/Activist/Reformed Armed Robber. www.DanielJSimms.com. www.DefundDOC.net.
When Andy H. Williams, Jr. sued the United States government, along with thirty States, on July 1, 2021, over prisoner slavery, he was not incarcerated. Nor did he anticipate to be. Instead, he was standing on his conscience, morals, and ethical aversion to slavery in all forms, including prisoner slavery. As a United States citizen, he viciously disagreed with the enslavement of his fellow countrymen and women. For whatever pretext. Foremost among them committing a crime. The government's criminalization of our people's behavior and health problems is extremely unethical and immensely immoral. (See: What Will Future Generations Condemn Us For. By Kwama Anthony Appiah. The Washington Post. September 26, 2010 at B01)("We already know that the massive waste of life in our prisons is morally troubling"). Using our people's mental health issues as a pretext to enslave them is atrocious. But then, subsidizing the exponential growth of mass incarceration and mass supervision with our troubled citizens' stolen slave labor is plain evil. (See: The Concept of Evil in German and American Criminal Punishments. By Joshua Klienfeld. September 9, 2010. http://www.ssrn.com/author=1514408. Working paper)("America's sentences of imprisonment are on average five to ten times longer than those of France, and much longer than those of Germany...[I]mprisonment has become the moral mode of dealing with crime in America"). Additionally, Andy instinctively knew that the prolific, wide-scale, institutionalized mass slavery of his compatriots meant the potential slavery of himself, his family, or his descendants. (See: Williams v. United States, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 21108). (See also: The Challenge of Mass Incarceration in America, in Daedalus: Journal of the American Academy of the Arts and Science. Summer 2010. By Glenn C. Loury and Bruce Western)("With roughly 5 percent of the world's population, the United States currently confines about 25 percent of the world's prison inmates. The American prison system has grown into a leviathan unmatched in human history... The financial costs entailed are staggering, and the extent of human suffering enduring boggles the mind"). Upon a lousy decision, mistake, or even plain ignorance of the vast panoply of laws, virtually anyone could be enslaved. This means practically everyone is reduced to a "pre-slave." (See: You Might Be Committing A Federal Crime, Heritage Found. By Robert Alt. (Dec. 17, 2010). http://www.perma.cc/WT9S-8WPT). (See also: You're [Probably] A Federal Criminal, In The Name Of Justice. By Alex Kozinski and Misha Tseytlin. (Thomas Lynch Ed., 2009)).
The Constitution is clear on this despicable subject: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, EXCEPT AS FOR PUNISHMENT FOR A CRIME of which the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist in the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." (See: U.S. Constitution, Amendment Thirteen) (my emphasis added). Likewise, the Courts and law are clear: "He [the convicted felon] has, as a consequence of his crimes, not only forfeited his liberty but all his personal rights except those which the law in its humanity accords him. He is, for the time being, the SLAVE of the State." (See: Ruffin v. Commonwealth, 62 Va (21 Gratt.) 790, 796, (1871) quoted in Note, 110 U. of P. Law Rev. 985 (1961-62)). (See also: United States, ex rel. Wakeley v. Pennsylvania, 247 F. Supp. 7 (September 22, 1965))(my emphasis added).
The unrestrained growth of mass incarceration is directly tied to slavery. If the Federal and State governments had to pay prisoners for their labor, mass incarceration would not be profitable. Unable to exploit prisoner labor introduces market forces and actual costs of running facilities. By implication, the artificial and subsidized nature of today's mass incarceration system would cease and crumble. When the government is forced to pay fair wages to all prison workers, suddenly, it will be fiscally necessary to focus solely on rehabilitation efforts to expedite the release of reformed citizens. The Government will gladly spend funds on the front end to educate and release our troubled people, as it will save them vast sums of money on the back end. Failing to rehabilitate troubled citizens forecloses them to repeated recidivism. (See: Deterrence in the Twenty-First Century 201, 42 Crime and Justice 199, 201. By Daniel S. Nagin. M. Tonry, ed. 2013)("The data are, at best, mixed, and there is compelling evidence that severe prison sentences make reoffending more likely when reentering society"). Long sentences in prison are ineffective for deterrence, rehabilitation, recidivism, or public safety. The only entity profiting from the status quo is the government. Once we take away the government's slave scheme, mass incarceration is no longer a viable public policy. The costs saddled on governmental coffers would break all historic levels of spending. With a prison population of 2.3 million, we incarcerate our populace at more than twice the rate of Russia, four times that of China, and more than fourteen times that of Japan. (See: Understanding Mass Incarceration: A People's Guide to the Key Civil Rights Struggle of Our Time 11. The New Press 2015. By James Kilgore). It costs an average $35,347 a year to confine a prisoner in the United States. (See: Annual Determination of Average Cost of Incarceration (COIF), 86 Fed. Reg. 49060. September 1, 2021). With 2.3 million Americans incarcerated, it costs approximately 82 billion dollars a year to perpetuate our failed criminal justice system. Eradicating slavery and paying minimum wage would double or triple that figure. Making it even more foolhardy to perpetuate. We must enact a better solution. One in which the government's financial interests align with the effective treatment of mental health disorders. Robust education in marketable vocations and careers. And radical socialization efforts. That way, troubled Americans are truly reformed and never return to prison. This is, of course, a tremendous public safety policy as well. There will be a dramatic reduction of new victims of recidivists overnight. No ex-felon who received a bachelor's or doctorate in Computer Science or Engineering will ever return to armed robbery, selling drugs, or gang activity. They will have matured, gained considerable knowledge, and obtained a whole new outlook on life and their place in it. The government would save the felon from a life of crime and institutionalization. At the same time, they are protecting the community from victimization by recidivists. As a government by the people and for the people, it should aspire to such a noble mission of its own accord. Of course, with a powerful profit motive, such as free slave labor, it is nearly impossible to persuade the government to alter its approach to crime. Those in power are unable to disentangle themselves from the illicit bounty slave labor gives them. That is why virtually all Americans alive today know someone with a felony record. In the next fifty years, it will only get worse. Projections extrapolate that fifty percent of the American population will be incarcerated. That expansion ensures our sons, daughters, and descendants will be enslaved into this current cesspool of suffering. Making literally every American or their descendants a "Pre-Slave." A Nation of pre-slaves.
African Americans were kidnapped from their homeland, stripped naked, shackled, shipped across the ocean, and compelled as slaves to labor by force in a foreign land. They were wickedly treated in their new land as property. Widespread evil propaganda imbued deep prejudices and hate towards the slaves, thereby dehumanizing them amongst the majority white citizenry. Outlawing educational advancements such as reading, writing, and math to ensure longevity in the slave trade industry further. Paying none, or close to none, wages for their labor, keeping them severely impoverished and unable to extricate themselves from slavery. All this vile hate-filled racism and maltreatment was simply a pretext to steal labor. Slavery is big business. (See: In re African-American Slave Descendants Litigation, 471 F.3d 754). (See also: State of Washington v. Jackson, 195 Wn. 2d 841). Today, our people are kidnapped by force by the government. They are stripped naked, searched, shackled, and transported to far-off prisons, typically many miles from their families and communities. They are compelled as slaves through force, coercion, or duress to labor in prison plantations. They are treated as property of the State. Widespread propaganda in mass media imbues deep prejudices and hate towards "prisoners" and "criminals," thereby dehumanizing them and denying meaningful educational advancement such as college degrees or marketable certificate programs to keep our troubled people unprepared to reenter society, ensuring longevity in the prisoner slave trade, stealing troubled Americans' wages to keep them severely impoverished and unable to extricate themselves from prison or recidivism financially. This hate-filled maltreatment is meant to enslave masses of Americans. Slavery is big business for the government as well. (See: Sears v. City of New York, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 110347). (See also: Fernandez v. City of New, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 100853).
Virtually every case brought to obtain reparations for past slavery atrocities and challenges to current prison slavery schemes gets dismissed outright. Just like cases brought by slaves during the time of slavery, they did not get any semblance of fairness and justice. The Judges and Courts of that pre-Civil War era were essentially overtly racist and often enslavers or slaveholders themselves. Likewise, today, Judges and Courts with the power to abolish prison slavery in all its forms are the most prolific enslavers themselves. Therefore, it is contrary to their vested interests to rule in favor of ending slavery. Appealing, even pleading on bloody knees, to the Judges and Courts that have inflicted suffering upon you is a useless endeavor. Their moral and ethical views on enslaving their fellow countrymen and women are vastly different than the majority of the citizenry. As such, it is incumbent upon an educated and active citizenry to demand the abolishment of the Thirteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The standards and norms for human decency, morality, and ethics have evolved in many segments of societal life. As they naturally should due to market forces, civil rights advocacy, and a myriad of other intervening causes. From dental and medical care treatment of animals to environmental impacts and a multitude of other social segments, it is readily apparent that human rights and dignity are respected. Yet, when it comes to the criminal justice system, it has devolved. Prisons are more crowded than ever before. Violence is not only common, it is literally demanded. Guard brutality and Prison Administrator corruption are prolific and, in many cases institutionalized in policy. Education is virtually nonexistent. Treatment of mental health disorders is largely unheard of. State-created scarcity of resources is the number one cause of murders, stabbings, and violence. The U.S. is now the biggest Slaveholder in all human history. The U.S. is the leading Kleptocracy in the world, institutionalizing a widespread wage theft scheme unrivaled in all of human history. The suffering in U.S. prisons is downright indecent, immoral, and unethical on so many levels.
Nonetheless, these depravities are commonplace across the whole U.S. prison industrial complex. In one Court opinion, they even acknowledged as much, stating, "[T]he Court recognizes the possibility that, anticipating evolving contemporary standards of decency, an extended term of confinement in a cramped and crowded cell without any opportunity whatsoever for an inmate to advance himself through education, vocational, or rehabilitative programs might be viewed as unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment." (See: Sosa v. Lantz, 2013, U.S. Dist. LEXIS 114944)
As an imprisoned American myself, with over twenty years inside, I can attest to the absolute desolation and cruelty this existence has inflicted upon me and millions of others. Every single day that goes by, millions of fellow Americans and I struggle immensely with feelings of despair, hopelessness, anxiety, fear, depression, and many other emotions. Being traumatized beyond comprehension by our government is the ultimate betrayal. The U.S. government's only legitimate purpose should be to protect and serve the American people. Protecting victims from crime and serving those who committed it by saving them [even from themselves]. Of course, that is not the case today at all. Instead, every second of every day, our people are suffering. It is not a momentary or transitory suffering. It is a chronic and persistent suffering that crowds out all notions of kindness, empathy, or understanding for anyone or anything. One can only focus on surviving that day instead of focusing on positive long-term goals. Achievable goals such as developing natural societal connections and preparing to contribute to society have gone by the wayside. Every person who enters the U.S. mass incarceration system for any significant amount of time leaves severely traumatized. They are so badly disturbed that virtually everyone released is worse and comes back to prison relatively quickly. Only a minuscule seventeen percent make it out of the cycle of recidivism. Any private business with similar dismal results would soon be put out of business by organic market forces.
You can continue to educate yourself on the injustices and inequities inflicted upon you or your descendants by simply subscribing to our free podcast and blog. www.DefundDOC.net. Every new subscriber will receive a free digital copy of one of my books: "DEFUND D.O.C.: TURNING ALL PRISONS INTO TREATMENT AND CAREER CENTERS," or, "THE ART OF LIVING: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN LIFE AND BUSINESS, I LEARNED IN PRISON."
Become a Reality TV Star! We are excited to invite you to be a part of history through a revolutionary new reality show: LOVE AND PRISON ACTIVISM. The reality show seeks to inspire prison reform by humanizing prisoners and those who love them. Showcasing their struggles and highlighting activism will assuredly change the narrative and allow space for true reform to occur. You do not need prior experience in mass incarceration to be a part of the show. All you need is a love for the American people. Therefore, everyone is invited to audition. Moreover, due to the immense need for people to attend rallies and protests in their States, literally everyone can appear and be featured in the show. So, do not miss your opportunity to participate in this groundbreaking effort. We will launch it on July 4th to coincide with our Country's previous fight for independence and freedom. This new fight we are embarking on is critical to realign U.S. policy with the people's demands. Foremost is ending prisoner slavery, turning all prisons into treatment and career centers, and reducing all non-homicide offenses down to a maximum of eight to ten years. You can receive all updates and news regarding the pending social justice reality show by easily subscribing to the podcast and blog. www.DefundDOC.net.
If you would like to support this overdue social justice mission, you can also purchase items from our branded collections. Currently, we have sweatshirts, tee-shirts, and more on our website, Cadmus Publishing (coming soon), Etsy, and our tiktok store. All profits go towards advancing your interests and the interests of the American people. Remember, supporting this cause is merely an insurance policy. Because you, or your descendants, have a fifty-fifty percent chance of going to prison within the next fifty years based on the historical growth of mass incarceration since the 1970s.
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