B2 – Upper Intermediate
In the Sunshine State, Florida, the issue of prison labor raises significant ethical and economic questions, as a majority of incarcerated individuals are compelled to work without compensation. This practice, deeply ingrained in the state’s penal system, sparks debate over labor rights, rehabilitation, and the broader implications for justice and society.
Learn more about this issue by reading this article.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/21/florida-unpaid-prison-labor
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “to turn a blind eye” mean? ““Is it shocking that Florida is seeming to turn a blind eye to prison slavery? No, not at all,” said Bianca Tylek.” Make a sentence with this.
- Define “in the wake of something”. “No criminal charges were filed against the officers involved and no reforms were enacted in the wake of the incident.” Use this in a sentence.
- What does “unabated” mean? “Kimber Tough, an organizer with Florida Prisoner Solidarity based in Gainesville, Florida, helped with efforts to get Alachua county, Florida, in 2019 and the University of Florida in 2020 to stop using prison labor, which included numerous protests and advocacy efforts. But across the state, the practice still continues unabated.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘unabated’ in your own sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- How do you personally feel about the practice of unpaid labor by incarcerated individuals in Florida’s prisons?
- In your opinion, should inmates be properly compensated for their labor while incarcerated? Why or why not?
- How can individuals and communities advocate for changes in the treatment and compensation of incarcerated workers in Florida?
- State your insights on this statement, “Florida charges prisoners debt, with prisoners levied $50 a day for their incarceration, which can often leave people trapped in debt once they are released.“.
- Talk about the prison labor system in your country.