This article discusses the issue of debtors prisons in the United States. A major question brought up in this reading is whether or not a person with unmanageable debt should be considered a criminal or not.Offenders who are thrown in jail for unpaid LFOs face many issues, not only during their time in prison, but upon their release. Individuals with unpaid debts return to the real world in worse condition than before imprisonment.They struggle with reduced income and worsened credit, conditions exacerbated by their time behind bars for a crime that is often beyond their control. All these problems increase the likelihood being sent back to prison. Though on a different level of severity, this makes me think of the issues of reintegration in Northern Ireland. With so many individuals being released after the Troubles. Ex-prisoners regardless of the situation will have a hard time readjusting and finding a place in society, especially with their criminalized reputations. These prisons are creating a two-tiered justice system where the poorer offenders are treated worse than those with more support. The ACLU has made several recommendations on how to deal with situation in ways that would keep debtors out of prison through better systems of payment.
The assigned reading which is an annual report on the consequences of debt assesses the effects of debt on the lives of debtors languishing in jails and the legal ramifications it has in the United States of America. Amazingly, the readings provide a thorough explanation of the effects of debt burden on inmates as well as the legal implications of their jail terms and life after prison. Sadly, the report reveals that most people are unable to settle their debts and court fines lack their freedom simply because of not honoring their debt repayment. In fact, failure to pay debt obligation result in poor credit rating, thus denying debtors access to credit opportunities and finding jobs.
However, the report also highlights the remarkable improvement in the United States legal system following a landmark ruling on an inmate’s lack of ability to complete his debt payment. It disclosed that the inability of the inmate to pay was due to circumstances beyond his control, such as lack of higher education to secure job opportunities in order to restore the livelihood of the inmates with debt obligation. In essence, the ruling avails the inmates an opportunity to revive their lives and pick up from where they stop while in detention. Finally, the report provided a set of recommendations as a roadmap to end this social anomaly and give chance to debtors to reorganizing their finances and life in general.
This article discusses the issue of debtors prisons in the United States. A major question brought up in this reading is whether or not a person with unmanageable debt should be considered a criminal or not.Offenders who are thrown in jail for unpaid LFOs face many issues, not only during their time in prison, but upon their release. Individuals with unpaid debts return to the real world in worse condition than before imprisonment.They struggle with reduced income and worsened credit, conditions exacerbated by their time behind bars for a crime that is often beyond their control. All these problems increase the likelihood being sent back to prison. Though on a different level of severity, this makes me think of the issues of reintegration in Northern Ireland. With so many individuals being released after the Troubles. Ex-prisoners regardless of the situation will have a hard time readjusting and finding a place in society, especially with their criminalized reputations. These prisons are creating a two-tiered justice system where the poorer offenders are treated worse than those with more support. The ACLU has made several recommendations on how to deal with situation in ways that would keep debtors out of prison through better systems of payment.
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ReplyDeleteThe assigned reading which is an annual report on the consequences of debt assesses the effects of debt on the lives of debtors languishing in jails and the legal ramifications it has in the United States of America. Amazingly, the readings provide a thorough explanation of the effects of debt burden on inmates as well as the legal implications of their jail terms and life after prison. Sadly, the report reveals that most people are unable to settle their debts and court fines lack their freedom simply because of not honoring their debt repayment. In fact, failure to pay debt obligation result in poor credit rating, thus denying debtors access to credit opportunities and finding jobs.
However, the report also highlights the remarkable improvement in the United States legal system following a landmark ruling on an inmate’s lack of ability to complete his debt payment. It disclosed that the inability of the inmate to pay was due to circumstances beyond his control, such as lack of higher education to secure job opportunities in order to restore the livelihood of the inmates with debt obligation. In essence, the ruling avails the inmates an opportunity to revive their lives and pick up from where they stop while in detention. Finally, the report provided a set of recommendations as a roadmap to end this social anomaly and give chance to debtors to reorganizing their finances and life in general.