Modern-Day Debtors’ Prison? Judges Push Back Against the South’s Privatization Wave
Kathleen Hucks was almost a model probationer.
In 2006 she was convicted of driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, and driving with a suspended license in Columbia County, Georgia. She successfully completed her probation and paid all of her court-issued fines.
But Hucks failed to pay all of the additional supervision fees charged by the private probation company supervising her case. Unaware of the oversight, she moved to Richmond County, Georgia. On Labor Day weekendnearly six years latera police officer asked for identification.
I was out walking my dogs when an officer came up to me asking who I was," she said. After running her name through the system, he told her that there was a warrant out for her arresta hold on her back in Columbia County.
I kept telling the officer, Im not on probation,'" said Hucks, who lives with her husband in a trailer in the town of Hephzibah, deep in the rural heartland of Georgia. But he said, Maam, I have to take you in. Its showing up on here that youre in violation of probation.........
http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/modern-day-debtors-prison-judges-push-back-against-souths-privatization-wave?akid=11920.1892773.QFTx21&rd=1&src=newsletter1003144&t=21