Alabama Faces Federal Lawsuit Alleging: A federal lawsuit filed on Tuesday claims that prisoners in Alabama are being denied parole and compelled to work at fast-food restaurants as part of a “labor-trafficking scheme” generating $450 million annually for the state. Ten former and current prisoners, along with labor unions representing service workers, filed the lawsuit against Governor Kay Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall, a beer distributor, and several fast-food companies. The suit alleges that the prison system profits by deducting fees from prisoners’ wages, providing private companies like KFC, Wendys, Burger King, and McDonald’s with a steady workforce.
The lawsuit draws parallels to convict leasing, resembling a system that followed slavery. The complaint argues that coerced labor from Alabama’s disproportionately Black incarcerated population fuels the lucrative profit-making engine of the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC). The suit contends that the ADOC enforces rules punishing incarcerated individuals for refusing to work or encouraging work stoppages.
Parole reforms enacted in 2015 had initially reduced work-release inmates, but rates dropped after Governor Ivey targeted the parole system. The lawsuit claims a decline in parole rates, particularly among Black inmates, along with increased wait times. The complaint seeks to address what it calls a modern-day form of slavery, stating that incarcerated individuals are forced to work for little or no money, facing danger and punishment if they refuse.
The lawsuit highlights the case of Lakiera Walker, incarcerated from 2007 to 2023, who faced rescheduled parole hearings and opposition from Attorney General Steve Marshall. Walker endured long hours of work, including stripping floors and roadwork, facing sexual harassment and inadequate conditions. The complaint aims to expose a labor trafficking scheme and challenges the punitive practices within Alabama prisons.
State Rep. Christopher England points to racial disparities in parole denials and challenges the notion that individuals working outside prisons for several hours a day pose threats to public safety. Over 500 companies contract with the Alabama Department of Corrections, and the lawsuit names private employers as well as government agencies benefiting from inmate labor. Inmates face punishment for refusing work or protesting conditions, with the Alabama Department of Corrections deducting 40 percent from their wages. The lawsuit sheds light on a system where inmates, like Michael Campbell, express losing hope in qualifying for parole.
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