Ohio Constitution allows slavery as a penalty for crime. Lawmakers want to change that

Nearly sixty years after the last state in the nation abolished slavery, Ohio's Constitution still allows involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. Ohio lawmakers say enough is enough. Reps. Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, and Phil Plummer, R-Dayton, are spearheading a proposed amendment that would prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude in Ohio with no exceptions. If passed by the House and Senate, the measure would move to the statewide ballot to give voters the final say â¿' something Jarrells would like to see happen next year.