The most common legally sanctioned form of slavery in the United States is penal labor through incarceration: Neoslavery
Under the 13th Amendment, slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited except as punishment for a crime. This exception allows incarcerated individuals to be compelled to work, often for little or no pay, with limited labor protections and no ability to refuse without punishment.
Historically, the most common form of slavery was chattel slavery, where people were legally treated as property. That system ended formally in the 19th century, but its labor logic persisted through convict leasing, chain gangs, and modern prison labor.
In the present day, incarceration-based forced labor is the dominant form because it is legal, widespread, and institutionalized within state and federal systems.
