Check out the book “slavery by another name” it breaks down the convict leasing system. In a lot of ways it was worse than slavery because the prisons didn’t have to take care of the slaves with their own money. They received state funding to feed and clothe them, which they did at the bare minimum to hoard the money. They also had local law enforcement on the take to get them fresh convicts whenever they needed them, so the would literally work these men to death and just replace them. If they didn’t die from overwork, they died from disease due to the filthy conditions and poor food rations.
