Involuntary servitude is the offense of compelling a person to labor against their will, for the benefit of another, under coercion. It is a legal and constitutional category broader than chattel slavery, since it covers unfree labor conditions such as coerced prison labor without requiring the complete ownership of a person, and compensation received by the victim does not remove the offense. In the United States the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution prohibits involuntary servitude except as a punishment for crime following conviction, and comparable prohibitions appear in other national constitutions, including those of Malaysia and the Philippines.
Facts
Classification Code Typical PenaltyA fine, or imprisonment of not more than 20 years, or both 1 Elements of OffenseA person laboring against that person's will to benefit another, under some form of coercion 2 Notable ExampleButler v. Perry (1916): the Thirteenth Amendment does not prohibit enforcement of those duties which individuals owe to the state 2 Jurisdiction VariationMalaysia prohibits all forms of forced labour but lets Parliament provide by law for compulsory service; the Philippines forbids involuntary servitude in any form except as a punishment for a crime 2 Classification
Offense GradeSerious or Indictable Offense 1 Connections
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Sources
1. 18 U.S. Code section 1584, Sale into involuntary servitude, Cornell Legal Information Institute
Section 1584(a), offense clause
Whoever knowingly and willfully holds to involuntary servitude or sells into any condition of involuntary servitude
Section 1584(a), penalty clause
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both
View the Source2. Involuntary servitude, Wikipedia
Definition
a person laboring against that person's will to benefit another, under some form of coercion
Passage on Butler v. Perry (1916)
enforcement of those duties which individuals owe to the state
Section on other national constitutions, Malaysia
All forms of forced labour are prohibited, but Parliament may by law provide for compulsory service
View the SourceUSLegal, Inc.: Involuntary Servitude Law and Legal Definition
USLegal, Inc.In Group: Slavery, Forced Labor and Trade in Persons, Legal definitionQuote, In Group: Slavery, Forced Labor and Trade in Persons, Legal definition
Involuntary servitude refers to being forced through coercion to work for another.
The Law Dictionary: Involuntary Servitude (Black's Law Dictionary, 2nd edition)
The Law DictionaryIn Group: Slavery, Forced Labor and Trade in Persons, DefinitionQuote, In Group: Slavery, Forced Labor and Trade in Persons, Definition
term use when a person is forced to work against his will.
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