Women at the Tutwiler Prison in Wetumpka, Ala., walk through the halls. This week, current and former prisoners announced a lawsuit challenging Alabama's prison labor program as a type of modern slavery. Dave Martin/AP hide caption
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The U.S. Constitution and 16 state constitutions ban slavery except as punishment for a crime. Prisoner advocates say this allows forced prison labor, but systemic change has been met with resistance. Charlotte Gomez for NPR hide caption
Colorado banned forced prison labor 5 years ago. Prisoners say it's still happening
Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg confirmed a report on Tuesday that calls on behalf of his campaign were being made by prison workers. He is seen here campaigning in Philadelphia on Saturday. Mark Makela/Getty Images hide caption
Florence Widdicombe, 6, poses with a Christmas card from the same pack as a card she found containing a message apparently from foreign prisoners in China. The U.K.-based grocery chain Tesco has halted production at the factory in China that supplied the cards. Dominic Lipinski/AP hide caption
"The goats are kind of cool," says former inmate Chad Redding. "The females are like dogs — they just want your attention." Dan Charles/NPR hide caption