Rita Sklar: An Arkansas Town Agrees to Criminal Justice Reform to Ensure That the Poor Are Not Jailed
For years, the city of Sherwood, Arkansas, home to about 30,000 people, had a practice of jailing people who could not afford to pay court costs incurred from bounced checks. … Continue reading
Fred Everett Maus: In the Women’s Prison
[This poem is made of words from a meditation group in a maximum security prison] A woman meditates silently for two minutes, eyes closed— Always a block party … Continue reading
Nika Knight: Debtors’ Prison for Kids — Poor Children Incarcerated When Families Can’t Pay Juvenile Court Fees
First-of-its-kind report finds children are being imprisoned nationwide when families can’t pay fines levied by juvenile justice system. Many states are incarcerating poor children whose families can’t afford to pay … Continue reading
ACLU: Ending Modern-Day Debtors’ Prisons in America
From the American Civil Liberties Union: Nearly two centuries ago, the United States formally abolished the incarceration of people who failed to pay off debts. Yet, recent years have witnessed … Continue reading
