US sees spread of 'debtors' prisons'

The poor and ruined businesspeople are being sentenced to jail illegally because of unpaid court fees and fines, according to human rights campaigners.

Debtors in jail Sakhorn

Groups including the Brennan Center for Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) say that the practice - which is illegal - has recently started again. Carl Takei of the ACLU says: 'The problem is it's not actually much of a money-making proposition ... to throw people in jail for fines and fees when they can't afford it. If counties weren't spending the money jailing people for not paying debts, they could be spending the money in other ways.'

Fine waivers

Lauren Brooke-Eisen of the Brennan Centre said: 'Even though a lot of jurisdictions do have statutes on the books that allow judges to waive fines and fees, it doesn't always happen.' Source: Fox News

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