When Jail Time Comes With A Bill
A case before the Kentucky Supreme Court involves a challenge to the practice of charging people for the time they are held in jail even if they are ultimately not convicted of the charges against them.
Vaidya Gullapalli Jan 27, 2020
Contemporary Debtors Prisons
Spotlights like this one provide original commentary and analysis on pressing criminal justice issues of the day. You can read them each day in our newsletter, The Daily Appeal. “Ours is an unforgiving age.” This is the first sentence of law professor Martha Minow’s recent book, “When Should Law Forgive?” The U.S., she writes, “is particularly punitive in […]
Sarah Lustbader Dec 18, 2019
Miami Officials: Most People Who Owe Fines and Fees Can Vote
Lawyers and advocates in Miami-Dade County will roll out a new plan to counter the disenfranchisement of people with felony convictions.
Kira Lerner, Daniel Nichanian Jul 24, 2019
Spotlight: Presidential Candidates—Pay Attention to Poverty and All of Its Drivers
The criminal and juvenile legal systems are drivers of poverty. Presidential candidates should recognize that.
Vaidya Gullapalli Jun 26, 2019
Pennsylvania Prosecutors Pursue Charges For People Who Fall Behind On Rent-To-Own Payments
The state’s “theft of leased property” statute allows prosecutors to seek felony charges for Pennsylvanians who miss payments on rental items.
Joshua Vaughn Sep 05, 2018
The Only Winners In California’s Fines and Fees System Are Private Debt Collectors
San Francisco just became the first city in the nation to stop charging court fines and fees, but the rest of the state has a long way to go.
Teresa Mathew Jul 02, 2018
New book explores the legal debt that comes after prison
Throughout his life, Nick has battled mental illness and an addiction to crack cocaine. He was convicted three times in the 1990’s for offenses that are characteristic of someone struggling with addiction, and served more than four years in a Washington State prison. But despite his fierce desire to remain sober and gainfully employed since […]
Carimah Townes Jul 28, 2017