ACLU Files Suit Against debtors Prisons & collection fees

[gerogie2]

https://www.aclu.org/criminal-law-reform-racial-justice/aclu-challenges-debt-collection-practices-target-poor

The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a federal lawsuit challenging debt collection practices that have resulted in the jailing of people simply because they are poor. The case was brought on behalf of Kevin Thompson, a black teenager in DeKalb County, Georgia, who was jailed because he could not afford to pay court fines and probation company fees stemming from a traffic ticket.

Because everything is a crime in modern day A'murika.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. AWESOME

If I were in charge, the Koch bros, Waltons and others would be in jail for unfair business practices and violation of basic human rights and economic terrorism...

Their assets seized.

But that would be a sane thing to do so it wont happen...

[Tsiyu]

2. It's about time

On a related note, I cannot imagine the mentality of those people making bank off of people's poverty, and off the uneven application of the War on Drugs.

Can you imagine being such a lowlife, you're getting wealthy charging poverty-ridden prisoners exorbitant prices to call family or to buy necessary items like shoes, underwear, toothpaste? Who are these scum? They are the true crooks.

And this that the ACLU is fighting is even worse. Debtor's prisons for traffic tickets? Is this who we have become?

Land of the NOT FREE.

GO ACLU!!!!!

[Dont call me Shirley]

3. Kansas is awarding high child support payments to non-custodial low income parents. Then when

the parent cannot ford to pay KS throws them in jail for a couple weeks. Then they lose their job because they are in jail. Then when they get out of jail after a couple weeks they don't have money to pay support. Then they get thrown back in jail for another couple of weeks. KS has a private prison complex.

ACLU needs to be on this.

[merrily]

4. Try writing them.

[Dont call me Shirley]

5. We have. No reply as of yet.

[merrily]

6. Good for you. Best wishes.

[daredtowork]

8. Prison Labor = The New Slavery

I hate to say it, but someone needs to be holding a microscope to what happened in California, too - even without the debt-trap step.

It seems obvious to me that a large portion of the population was removed from "The Welfare State", placed in behaviorally controlled conditions, and trapped into forced labor for pennies.

If you think about it, California could have taken the money it spends on prison and simply used it to create opportunities for these people to support themselves independently. How many would have taken that option rather than turning to crime?

[Dont call me Shirley]

9. The us is the new slave colony of the plutocracy. They stole our democracy and enslaved us.

Pitchforks. Feathers. Tar.

[valerief]

7. Everything is a crime UNLESS you can afford to buy crime. nt

[Scalded Nun]

11. About the only thing missing in our prisons is an 'Arbeit macht Frei' sign over the entrance

[KauaiK]

12. My son is in the same boat

AND even though more than half of the fines have passed the statue of limitations, they can't be removed b/c a debt collection company in Texas now owns the debt. When pointed out to this company that have the debt has passed the statute of limitations, they replied with an UNSIGNED letters back saying take it to the courts who have said they have no jurisdiction because the company owns the debt.

Can you say Catch 22???