## The Exception Clause

The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1865, reads: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, *except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted*, shall exist within the United States." This single phrase—eleven words—created a financial loophole that the prison industrial complex has exploited for over 150 years.

### FAQ

**Q: How do companies like McDonald's and Victoria's Secret legally pay workers $1.50/day?**
A: Prison Labor Arbitrage. Corporations contract directly with state prison systems to employ incarcerated workers in their manufacturing and food preparation operations. Victoria's Secret used prison labor to sew lingerie. McDonald's uses prison labor to process beef patties. The daily wage paid to these workers ranges from zero to approximately $1.50 — a rate that is explicitly and legally exempt from the Federal Minimum Wage Act. A single operation employing 500 prison workers at $1.50/day saves approximately $10.8 Million per year compared to hiring free citizens at $15/hour minimum wage. This is not a black market operation; it is openly advertised in corporate procurement documents as a cost-saving measure. The incarcerated workers have no legal right to refuse or to unionize.