Sac DA: Ending forced prison labor is a step toward real rehabilitation, safer communities | Opinion

As Sacramento County’s district attorney, I’ve dedicated my career to pursuing justice and protecting public safety. I’ve prosecuted the most heinous crimes, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact of crime on victims, families and communities. While accountability is an essential foundation of justice, we must always strive to improve our criminal justice system.

To end the cycles of harm and recidivism, we need to stop the continued use of forced labor in our prisons — a practice rooted in our country’s dark history of slavery.

California voters have the opportunity to abolish this outdated practice by voting yes on Proposition 6, which seeks to eliminate forced labor in our state’s prison system, ensuring that incarcerated individuals can access the rehabilitative programs they need to re-enter society successfully.

Prop. 6 is not about eliminating work in prisons; it’s about making work voluntary and focusing on rehabilitation. Under the current system, incarcerated individuals are often forced into work assignments that conflict with educational or rehabilitative programs. These mandatory work schedules prevent individuals from participating in critical services such as addiction treatment, anger management and educational opportunities.

Forcing someone to work while denying them the chance to better themselves through rehabilitation is not justice and does not promote public safety.

As a prosecutor, I’ve seen the consequences of a system that doesn’t prepare individuals for life after incarceration. In California, approximately 35,000 people are released from state prisons each year. If we want to reduce the likelihood of reoffending, we need to ensure that these individuals have the tools they need to reintegrate into society successfully.

Studies show that participation in rehabilitative programs, such as education and cognitive-behavioral therapy, can significantly reduce recidivism rates. In fact, individuals who engage in educational programs while incarcerated are far less likely to return to prison compared to those who do not.

Prop. 6 aims to expand access to these life-changing programs by making work in prison voluntary. This will allow incarcerated individuals to prioritize rehabilitation, gain valuable skills and reconnect with their families. Research has shown that maintaining family connections is one of the most effective ways to reduce recidivism, yet forced labor often prevents incarcerated individuals from having the time and flexibility to nurture these relationships.

The economic case for Prop. 6 is just as compelling as the moral one. California spends approximately $134,000 per year to incarcerate a single person. In contrast, rehabilitative programs cost a fraction of that amount. By reducing recidivism through education and rehabilitation, Prop. 6 has the potential to generate substantial savings for California taxpayers — funds that can be reinvested into our communities, schools and mental health services.

Some might argue that forced labor has no place in modern-day California, but it’s important to remember that our state’s constitution still allows for involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime. By passing Prop. 6, we will join states like Alabama, Tennessee and Colorado in removing this shameful language and ending forced labor in our prisons.

This is not only a matter of justice, but also of dignity and humanity.

As district attorney, I believe that when a justice system balances accountability and rehabilitation, we better serve the long-term safety and well-being of our communities. Prop. 6 offers a path forward that prioritizes accountability, rehabilitation and helps individuals re-enter society as productive members.