NOTE FROM TED: This talk represents the speaker's personal views. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf

Joe Sprangel unknowingly first experienced the prison-industrial complex as a machine repairman sent to the local prison to work on a stamping press that produced license plates. Many years later, he was disappointed to learn that the current form of punishment is an exception to the 13th US Constitution amendment that otherwise abolished slavery, ultimately allowing a dehumanizing version of slavery to exist. Joe Sprangel unknowingly first experienced the prison-industrial complex as a machine repairman sent to the local prison to work on a stamping press that produced license plates. Many years later, he was disappointed to learn that the current form of punishment is an exception to the 13th US Constitution amendment that otherwise abolished slavery, ultimately allowing a dehumanizing version of slavery to exist. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx