Frequently Asked Questions

Does the North Carolina Constitution still allow involuntary servitude?
Yes. Article 1, Section 17 of North Carolina’s State Constitution reads, “Slavery is forever prohibited. Involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the parties have been adjudged guilty, is forever prohibited.”

Why should involuntary servitude be abolished?
Involuntary servitude is a moral wrong, a violation or North Carolina’s values, and a stain on our state’s history. No person, whether civilly, in custody, or duly convicted, in our state should every be subjected to involuntary servitude and be threatened with physical, social, mental, or financial damage as a result of non-compliance towards involuntary servitude.

Can we amend North Carolina’s Constitution to prohibit involuntary servitude?
Yes. Such a Bill to prohibit involuntary servitude would need to be read three times in both the North Carolina General Assembly and the North Carolina Senate. If read three times in each House, both Houses would then need to approve the Bill by at least 60% or higher in order for it to go on the next upcoming statewide ballot. If the ballot is approved by a simple majority of North Carolinians, the Bill becomes a part of the North Carolina State Constitution immediately, in our case to remove the exception protecting involuntary servitude.

Would this amendment abolish prison work programs or community volunteer service for North Carolina inmates?
No. This bill will not eliminate labor in prisons at all, it will only eliminate the punitive consequences associated with persons convicted of a crime who refuse to comply with involuntary servitude, and involuntary servitude itself. We want them to engage in as much employment, labor, work, or volunteer opportunities as they can, and we strive to set a good example for that. Working will help persons convicted of a crime in our state to understand the value of making a good living once they are released, and it will provide them essential skills, values, and characteristics that will make them stronger persons upon release back into society. For states that have already amended their state constitutions to prohibit all forms of slavery and involuntary servitude, their prison labor programs have not been negatively impacted by ending their exception clauses in their state Constitutions.

Would this amendment give minimum wage, or higher wages or salaries, for incarcerated North Carolinians?
No. This bill will not increase compensation or wages than what already is in effect. If this proposed amendment included increasing wages, compensation, or salaries to incarcerated persons in North Carolina prisons, jails, and correction facilities, it would have strongly made our efforts partisan. This would hinder eliminating the exception clause in our state Constitution. Separate, individual bills that are not affiliated with our proposed Constitutional amendment would be introduced to address those issues, with the state legislatures negotiating those things. Our Bill is a stand-alone Bill with absolutely no caveats, terms, condition, or additions other than keeping it simple, eliminate all exceptions towards involuntary servitude, slavery, and their derivatives to include human trafficking from our state Constitution.

No. Out of the states that have already prohibited all forms of involuntary servitude in their state constitutions, four are Republican majority states (Alabama, Nebraska, Tennessee, & Utah), three are Democrat majority states (Oregon, Rhode Island, & Vermont), and one is a Swing state (Colorado).

If you are a legal resident of North Carolina, reach out to us via email on our contacts page, ask your organization to endorse, see if you are an excellent fit in working as a member of our Board, or donate to us. If you are a legal resident outside of North Carolina, and also are not from a state that has abolished all forms of involuntary servitude via their state constitution, please reach out to the Abolish Slavery National Network. They will be able to assist with your inquiries and help you get started in this joint-based effort.