Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Latest Breaking News

Ash_F

(5,861 posts)

26. "Genuinely can't afford to pay"

Reply to Xithras (Reply #25)

Wed Feb 12, 2014, 01:12 PM

Feb 2014

I think some folks might differ on what that means on a case by case basis. The bottom line is people go to jail for unpaid citations. Almost exclusively the very poor. I have been in court to plead down fines, it is not easy. Best case is you get on a work release program which still takes time away from paying work.

And my question was not answered anyway. How many is it? When the State is being ORDERED to reduce its prison population due to human rights violations, it is time to ask these questions. These violations are a more severe crime than any pot ticket.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

28 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Court gives California 2 years to lower prison population [View all] alp227 Feb 2014 OP

Time to legalize marijuana. Other States have led the way. Ash_F Feb 2014 #1

Time to legalize it retroactively, get those people out of jail. nt bemildred Feb 2014 #2

Yep. It's beyond time all across the nation. WhiteTara Feb 2014 #10

Do you know how many prisoners are doing time for non-violent offenses? NobodyHere Feb 2014 #4

No one is in prison for simple pot possession. former9thward Feb 2014 #7

Dealing? /nt Ash_F Feb 2014 #16

There are probably people in prison for dealing. former9thward Feb 2014 #18

But many, MANY are in prison for violation of probation by smoking pot duhneece Feb 2014 #19

You may be right. former9thward Feb 2014 #24

I'm pretty sure that's true. Mz Pip Feb 2014 #28

It's the Three Strikes law that is crowding our prisons. Le Taz Hot Feb 2014 #3

Given this situation, one would hope the legislature would do that. KamaAina Feb 2014 #11

I think there are enough gutless Dems Le Taz Hot Feb 2014 #12

The California legislature can't overturn Three Strikes. Xithras Feb 2014 #14

Release all the pot possesion prisoners immediatly. L0oniX Feb 2014 #5

They are long gone. former9thward Feb 2014 #8

There are no pot possession prisoners in California. Xithras Feb 2014 #15

What if you don't or can't pay the fine? /nt Ash_F Feb 2014 #17

Then it's treated like a traffic ticket. Xithras Feb 2014 #20

Ok so jail. /nt Ash_F Feb 2014 #21

County jail doesn't equal state prison NobodyHere Feb 2014 #23

Sure. If you want to make a political statement out of it. But then it's your choice. Xithras Feb 2014 #25

"Genuinely can't afford to pay" Ash_F Feb 2014 #26

Which is why they are considered on a case by case basis. Xithras Feb 2014 #27

They can also release their elderly prisoners and those with terminal illnesses. jwirr Feb 2014 #6

two more years and the prison and county jails will be more crowded not less. olddad56 Feb 2014 #9

In another state, some would almost take that to mean: Blue_Tires Feb 2014 #13

we hey gang affiliation charge mackerel Feb 2014 #22