Alabama’s $450 Million Forced Labor Scheme

This episode investigates how Alabama’s prison labor system generates hundreds of millions of dollars while the people doing the work earn little to nothing. We unpack the structure behind so-called “voluntary” labor, the role of state agencies and private contractors, and how parole decisions, disciplinary threats, and economic coercion keep the system running.

Alabama’s $450 Million Forced Labor Scheme connects policy, profit, and power—examining whether this model serves public safety or perpetuates exploitation, and why accountability has lagged despite mounting legal and ethical challenges.