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submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by Varyk@sh.itjust.works to c/til@lemmy.world

Very weird that I am so old and have literally never heard this mentioned in a TV show or book or movie or anything.

In four out of five states, if you go to prison, you are literally paying for the time you spend there.

As you can guess, this results in crippling debt as soon as you're released.

The county gets back a fraction of what they hold over your head the rest of your life until you commit suicide(or die naturally and peacefully with the sword of damocles hanging over your head).

$20-$80 a day according to Rutgers.

Counties apparently sue people and employ wage garnishment to get back the money that majority of people obviously cannot pay back.

https://www.rutgers.edu/news/states-unfairly-burdening-incarcerated-people-pay-stay-fees

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[-] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 11 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

So they can sponge off any legal judgements you get for false imprisonment

[-] dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works 9 points 6 months ago

I thought last I heard about this that the bills for this weren't usually called for payment unless you were suing them for something. Could be mistaken

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[-] halferect@lemmy.world 9 points 6 months ago

Believe it or not if you can't pay.. straight to jail

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[-] leanleft@lemmy.ml 9 points 6 months ago

Indicative of a failed system OR a abusive system.
Pick one.
There are no other explanations.
Pick one.

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[-] w2tpmf@lemmy.world 8 points 6 months ago

They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison Following the rights movement, you clamped on with your iron fists Drugs became conveniently available for all the kids Following the rights movement, you clamped on with your iron fists Drugs became conveniently available for all the kids I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch right here in Hollywood (Nearly two million Americans are incarcerated in the prison system, prison system of the US) They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison (For you and me to live in) Another prison system Another prison system Another prison system (For you and me) Minor drug offenders fill your prisons you don't even flinch All our taxes paying for your wars against the new non-rich Minor drug offenders fill your prisons you don't even flinch All our taxes paying for your wars against the new non-rich I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch right here in Hollywood (The percentage of Americans in the prison system, prison system, has doubled since 1985) They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison (For you and me to live in) Another prison system Another prison system Another prison system (For you and me) For you and I, you and I, you and I You and I They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison for you and me Oh, baby, you and me Oh Oh All research and successful drug policy show that treatment should be increased (Oh) And law enforcement decreased while abolishing mandatory minimum sentences (Oh) All research and successful drug policy show that treatment should be increased (Oh) And law enforcement decreased while abolishing mandatory minimum sentences Utilising drugs to pay for secret wars around the world Drugs are now your global policy, now you police the globe I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch right here in Hollywood Drug money is used to rig elections and train brutal corporate sponsored dictators around the world They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison (For you and me to live in) Another prison system Another prison system Another prison system (For you and me) For you and I, you and I, you and I You and me They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison for you and me Oh, baby, you and me

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[-] CCF_100@sh.itjust.works 8 points 6 months ago

What do they do if the incarcerated people are unable to pay the fee? Do they just let the debt add up? That's awful...

[-] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 13 points 6 months ago

That Rutgers article says that they literally take people with a debt to court, or they take money from your wages while you're working, assuming of course that you can find a job after you get out.

[-] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago

Counties apparently sue people and employ wage garnishment to get back the money that majority of people obviously cannot pay back. For the rest of their lives until they commit suicide (or die naturally and peacefully with the sword of damocles hanging over their heads).

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[-] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 7 points 6 months ago

Very weird that I am so old and have literally never heard this mentioned in a TV show or book or movie or anything.

I don't think that's weird at all. But it certainly says a lot about the US media landscape.

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this post was submitted on 02 May 2024
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