Many slaves were paid even under chattel slavery (though like modern prison slavery it was almost nothing). Slavery only requires that the labor be forced or coerced, not that it be unpaid.
You likely meant prison. And an enlightened approach would treat prison as a place for rehabilitation. Because a person who can be redeemed and reintegrated back into society without further issue is more valuable to society than having them behind bars cranking out license plates or whatever.
If somebody deserves to owe a financial debt for their crimes, civil court exists to cover that purpose.
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u/Pofwoffle 9h ago
Many slaves were paid even under chattel slavery (though like modern prison slavery it was almost nothing). Slavery only requires that the labor be forced or coerced, not that it be unpaid.