Which statement about the 13th Amendment and pretrial detainees is accurate?

Which statement about the 13th Amendment and pretrial detainees is accurate?

• A. It abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, with no exceptions.
• B. It applies to pretrial detainees.
• C. It guarantees free labor for all inmates.
• D. It does not include pretrial detainees.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that the 13th Amendment bans slavery and involuntary servitude everywhere in the United States, with one clear exception: it allows mandatory labor as punishment for a crime after a person has been duly convicted. Because pretrial detainees have not been convicted, the exception does not apply to them. Therefore the amendment does apply to pretrial detainees, protecting them from involuntary servitude. The statement about abolishing slavery with no exceptions is incorrect because of that exception for punishment after conviction. The idea of guaranteed free labor for all inmates isn’t what the amendment provides, since it doesn’t grant labor rights in that way, and the notion that pretrial detainees aren’t included conflicts with the prohibition on involuntary servitude that covers everyone, including those awaiting trial.

The main idea is that the 13th Amendment bans slavery and involuntary servitude everywhere in the United States, with one clear exception: it allows mandatory labor as punishment for a crime after a person has been duly convicted. Because pretrial detainees have not been convicted, the exception does not apply to them. Therefore the amendment does apply to pretrial detainees, protecting them from involuntary servitude. The statement about abolishing slavery with no exceptions is incorrect because of that exception for punishment after conviction. The idea of guaranteed free labor for all inmates isn’t what the amendment provides, since it doesn’t grant labor rights in that way, and the notion that pretrial detainees aren’t included conflicts with the prohibition on involuntary servitude that covers everyone, including those awaiting trial.