SJRES 33 United States Senate · 118th Congress

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to remove the Thirteenth Amendment's exception that permits slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishment. It would directly affect all individuals within the U.S. criminal justice system by banning any form of forced labor for crimes, addressing a historical loophole that enabled mass incarceration of Black Americans post-Civil War. Key provisions explicitly state: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude may be imposed as a punishment for a crime," while clarifying it does not interfere with voluntary prison work programs, community service alternatives, or existing employment protections for incarcerated people. The amendment aims to align U.S. law with constitutional principles by eliminating this exception without altering current sentencing options.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jun 14, 2023 Last action Jun 14, 2023
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2
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Committee
1
Jun 14, 2023
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
upper
Jun 14, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 14 co-sponsors

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