The return of Debtor's Prison.
The GOP wet dream has arrived. Not only can people be jailed for being poor, but it is done by private companies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/03/us/probation-fees-multiply-as-companies-profit.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&ref=todayspaper
It is, rather, about the mushrooming of fines and fees levied by money-starved towns across the country and the for-profit businesses that administer the system. The result is that growing numbers of poor people, like Ms. Ray, are ending up jailed and in debt for minor infractions.
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At this rate, looks as if the US will retain its #1 position in the world for incarceration:
The incarceration rate in the United States of America is the highest in the world. As of 2009, the incarceration rate was 743 per 100,000 of national population (0.743%).[2] In comparison, Russia had the second highest, at 577 per 100,000, Canada was 123rd in the world as 117 per 100,000, and China had 120 per 100,000.[2] While Americans only represent about 5 percent of the world's population, nearly one-quarter of the entire world's inmates have been incarcerated in the United States in recent years.[3] Imprisonment of America's 2.3 million prisoners, costing $24,000 yearly, and $5.1 billion in new prison construction, consumes $60 billion in budget expenditures.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_incarceration_rate
The ACLU has this recent blog:
http://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/courts-should-stop-jailing-people-being-poor
Another interesting site is "The Sentencing Project - Research & Advocacy for Reform"
http://www.sentencingproject.org/template/page.cfm?id=107
The article mentions the name of the law firm: Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz and here is a little background about them:
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz P.C. (formerly Baker Donelson) is a large U.S. law firm and lobbying group with offices in the Southeastern United States, Washington, D.C. and London, England. According to the National Law Journal's 2010 rankings, it is the 72nd largest law firm in the United States, and the largest in the state of Tennessee.[3] Fortune has twice selected Baker Donelson as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, citing the firm's commitment to diversity, public service and pro bono work.[4][5]
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker,_Donelson,_Bearman,_Caldwell_%26_Berkowitz
Misdemeanors plus layers of *fees* tacked on = the new cash cow!
RB
West Palm Beach, FL
Each and everyone should follow the laws and there should be no condoning of those that break the laws. Unfortunately the system of justice for the poor is measured differently from that of the rich. The rich gets away with breaking the laws as they are able to purchase impunity. The poor is cajoled and arm twisted for every penny they owed. It has been this way since time Immemorial. Will it ever change? not very likely. This is why it behoove us to always walk the straight and narrow.
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'middle of the road' American thought in a nutshell :
1 Drone-like nod to the 'LAW'
2 A tilt to the 'left' by saying the rich buy their out, and the poor get the shaft
3 The expression of the thought that it will NEVER change
3 Another nod to the system, warning all fellow worker-drones to 'toe the line'
