Supervisor Preston Calls for Board of Supervisors to Support State Ballot Measure to End Prison Slavery and Enhance Safety

District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston on Tuesday called for the Board of Supervisors to support Proposition 6, a state ballot measure which will prioritize public safety and rehabilitation by ending the last legal vestiges of slavery in California. Proposition 6 has broad support from organizations like ACLU California Action, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, Glide, All of Us or None, and the San Francisco Labor Council. The measure also has endorsements from local Democratic clubs and various news publications throughout the state.

“Supporting Proposition 6 is not only the morally correct thing to do, but also essential if we are serious about addressing recidivism and incentivizing people to invest in their rehabilitation,” stated Preston. “It is well past time to correct this historic wrong and end legalized forced labor in California once and for all.”

Proposition 6, on the November 2024 ballot, will eliminate a constitutional provision that allows the state to force incarcerated people to work certain jobs and punish those who miss work or refuse to work– a practice that effectively bars some imprisoned people from seeking certain classes or therapeutic services if they conflict with their mandated work assignments. Voters in Alabama, Tennessee, Oregon, and Vermont have already passed similar bans in their states in 2022.

“Forced prison labor undermines the ability of thousands of incarcerated people to gain the tools they need to turn their lives around, making it more likely that they will reoffend when they inevitably return to their communities,” stated Lawrence Cox from All of Us Or None. “California can reduce crime, prevent victimization, and reduce taxpayer spending on a bloated prison system by ending this practice in November.”

“Accountability doesn’t require prioritizing profits from the exploitation of incarcerated workers above all else,” stated J.Vasquez from CURYJ. “By prioritizing rehabilitation and education, California will increase the likelihood that people who are released from prison are able to become gainfully employed and give back to their communities in positive ways.”

The resolution is expected to be voted on at the October 22, 2024 Board of Supervisors meeting.