Res. No. 390
Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.7282/A.7873, also known as the No Slavery in New York Act, in relation to ending involuntary servitude in state and local correctional facilities in New York State
By Council Members Epstein and Louis
Whereas, Incarcerated individuals are human beings deserving of dignity, respect, and protection under the law; and
Whereas, The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as punishment for a crime, a clause that has been widely criticized for permitting compelled labor in correctional settings; and
Whereas, This exception has created a legal framework under which incarcerated individuals may be required to work under threat of punishment, loss of privileges, or other adverse consequences; and
Whereas, Incarcerated labor in many cases benefits public institutions and government-operated programs, including New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and its industrial program Corcraft, which rely on incarcerated workers to support facility operations and production; and
Whereas, Reports and firsthand accounts from formerly incarcerated individuals describe coercive conditions in which refusal to work may result in disciplinary action, including solitary confinement, loss of good time, or other sanctions; and
Whereas, Such coercion may take the form of both direct punishment and indirect deprivation, including limiting access to basic necessities, financial resources, or opportunities for movement outside of a cell; and
Whereas, Courts have historically upheld the authority of correctional systems to require labor from incarcerated individuals, reinforcing a system in which refusal to work may carry significant penalties; and
Whereas, The New York State Constitution requires the Legislature to provide for the occupation and employment of incarcerated individuals, while prohibiting the use of such labor for private profit, but does not explicitly prohibit involuntary servitude; and
Whereas, S.7282, sponsored by New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie, and A.7873, sponsored by New York State Assemblymember Demond Meeks, also known as the No Slavery in New York Act, would amend the Civil Rights Law and Correction Law to abolish slavery, involuntary servitude, and forced labor for incarcerated individuals; and
Whereas, This legislation would prohibit labor that is compelled through force, threat of force, or adverse action, including the misuse of institutional rules and disciplinary processes to compel work; and
Whereas, Establishing that all labor performed in correctional facilities must be voluntary would align New York State with evolving standards of human rights, fairness, and dignity; and
Whereas, Ending involuntary servitude in correctional settings would mark a significant step toward addressing longstanding inequities and modernizing New York’s legal framework; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.7282/A.7873, also known as the No Slavery in New York Act, in relation to ending involuntary servitude in state and local correctional facilities in New York State.
CMB
LSR#22139
3/20/26