Switch to the mobile version of this page.

Arkansas Times

Arkansas Blog

« Walgreen buying Pine Bluff-based dr… | Why not opt out of Medicaid? »

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Law You thought debtor prison was unconstitutional?

Posted by Max Brantley on Thu, Jul 5, 2012 at 9:40 AM

Welcome to Alabama. (And, perhaps, who knows? There might be Arkansas towns piling up ever-increasing fines and fees on misdemeanor violators that they can't pay.)

In a 2010 study, the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law examined the fee structure in the 15 states — including California, Florida and Texas — with the largest prison populations. It asserted: “Many states are imposing new and often onerous ‘user fees’ on individuals with criminal convictions. Yet far from being easy money, these fees impose severe — and often hidden — costs on communities, taxpayers and indigent people convicted of crimes. They create new paths to prison for those unable to pay their debts and make it harder to find employment and housing as well as to meet child support obligations.”

Tags: prison fees, court costs

        
Tweet
Share

Comments (26)

Showing 1-26 of 26

Add a comment

Subscribe to this thread:

By Email

With RSS

Showing 1-26 of 26

More by Max Brantley

Arkansas jobless rate unchanged in February

The Arkansas unemployment rate in February held steady at 7.2 percent. Details here.
- by Max Brantley
- Mar 29, 2013
Speaking of tax cuts for the rich

Rep. Charlie Collins is doing his part for the wealthy with state income tax relief.
- by Max Brantley
- Mar 21, 2013
More »

Event Calendar

« »

May

Events Movies Music Art Theater

most recent comments

most shared stories

Re: Airport audit brought to board
- Chronic incompetency revealed in airport audit this month. Next month commission will tell us what…
- Posted by PVNasby
- on May 21, 2013
Re: Conservationists call for Buffalo protection on river, hog farm tour
- eureka, you really don't know what you are talking about in relation to river levels…
- Posted by wannabee conservative
- on May 21, 2013
Re: A case for the new Public Corruption Task Force?
- Womack himself repeated the story today. Womack says he does not know lobbyist's name and…
- Posted by David Ramsey
- on May 21, 2013

NLR woman dies after fiance sets her on fire

Worst local story today so far is from Fox 16: A North Little Rock woman has died after her fiancee poured gasoline on her and set her on fire.
Sources identify Steele Stephens as informant in Shoffner case

I hinted earlier that evidence was mounting that the securities salesman who provided confidential information to the FBI was Steele Stephens, the broker who began enjoying a huge share of Treasurer Martha Shoffner's bond business in 2010.
Shoffner watch: She won't be in today

Debbie Rogers, chief deputy state treasurer, said Treasurer Martha Shoffner will not be at work today, but otherwise it was "business as usual" at the treasurer's office.
A case for the new Public Corruption Task Force?

At the announcement yesterday of the charge against Martha Shoffner, U.S. attorneys announced a public corruption task force for the state.
Cathi Compton also in circuit judge race

We're one day into the official campaign period for judicial offices (the election is May 20, 2014) and we already have a race for circuit judge of the 13th division, covering Pulaski and Perry counties.

The Damien I Know - The Architect and the Inmate

Public for the first time, the woman who married Damien Echols discusses their relationship
Make a pilgrimage to Pho Vietnam in Fort Smith

For the vegetarian banh mi sandwich.
'A Loss of Roses' a stunner

Before last Friday night, the saddest, most "depressing" Depression-era story I had read was Horace McCoy's "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" However, after watching The Arkansas Repertory Theatre's opening performance of William Inge's "A Loss of Roses," I can attest that this play is as rough and unflinching as that Depression-era tale, or any other.
TV producer Bryant Huddleston disinvited as Imboden Ark., high school graduation speaker because he's gay

Our news partner Channel 4 has a news story that deserves repetition in full. More national headlines for the small people of Arkansas should follow directly.
Loy Mauch update: The Republican rep is on record on slavery, too

Perhaps U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin might want to reconsider his earlier decision not to include Republican Rep. Loy Mauch on the list of Republican candidates he'd asked not to use his campaign contributions, having read some of what they'd written.

Top Commenters

Slideshows

Site Index

News

Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / Smart Talk / The Insider / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Bob Lancaster / Words / Guest Writer / Letters

Entertainment

A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Graham Gordy / Books / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / What's Cookin' / Calendar / The Televisionist / Movie Listings / Gallery Listings

This Week's Cover

Cover of this issue of The Arkansas Times

Quick Links

Special Publications

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
			1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
			1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
			1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31

Browse Posts

Browse Blogs

Browse News

Browse Data

Browse Entertainment

Browse Dining

Browse Guides

Browse Archives

Browse Best Of Ark

Browse Contact / Subscribe

Arkansas Blog

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Law You thought debtor prison was unconstitutional?

Posted by Max Brantley on Thu, Jul 5, 2012 at 9:40 AM

Comments (26)

More by Max Brantley

The Arkansas unemployment rate in February held steady at 7.2 percent. Details here.

Rep. Charlie Collins is doing his part for the wealthy with state income tax relief.

Event Calendar

Re: Airport audit brought to board

Re: Conservationists call for Buffalo protection on river, hog farm tour

Re: A case for the new Public Corruption Task Force?

Worst local story today so far is from Fox 16: A North Little Rock woman has died after her fiancee poured gasoline on her and set her on fire.

I hinted earlier that evidence was mounting that the securities salesman who provided confidential information to the FBI was Steele Stephens, the broker who began enjoying a huge share of Treasurer Martha Shoffner's bond business in 2010.

Debbie Rogers, chief deputy state treasurer, said Treasurer Martha Shoffner will not be at work today, but otherwise it was "business as usual" at the treasurer's office.

At the announcement yesterday of the charge against Martha Shoffner, U.S. attorneys announced a public corruption task force for the state.

We're one day into the official campaign period for judicial offices (the election is May 20, 2014) and we already have a race for circuit judge of the 13th division, covering Pulaski and Perry counties.

Public for the first time, the woman who married Damien Echols discusses their relationship

For the vegetarian banh mi sandwich.

Our news partner Channel 4 has a news story that deserves repetition in full. More national headlines for the small people of Arkansas should follow directly.

Perhaps U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin might want to reconsider his earlier decision not to include Republican Rep. Loy Mauch on the list of Republican candidates he'd asked not to use his campaign contributions, having read some of what they'd written.