Court Debt – Page 5 – Voices for Civil Justice

California Traffic Tickets Amnesty Program Leaves Many Behind

News Story (California)

California Traffic Tickets Amnesty Program Leaves Many Behind

November 11, 2015 | Sam Levin | East Bay Express (Oakland, CA)
The state's initiative to help low-income drivers overcome excessive traffic court debts is failing the most vulnerable residents — and advocates say the East Bay courts' policies are particularly unjust.
Tags: Court Debt | Driver's license suspension | Traffic Tickets

Lawsuit: Court Illegally Jails People Who Can’t Pay Fines

News Story (Mississippi)

Lawsuit: Court Illegally Jails People Who Can’t Pay Fines

October 13, 2015 | Associated Press (AP)
Seven people have sued Mississippi's capital city, saying its municipal court illegally jailed them because they couldn't pay court fines.
Tags: Court Debt | Debtors Prison

Buried under unpaid traffic fines? California launches amnesty program

News Story (California)

Buried under unpaid traffic fines? California launches amnesty program

September 30, 2015 | Maura Dolan | Los Angeles Times (LA Times)
An amnesty program for Californians saddled with unpaid traffic tickets takes effect Thursday, paving the way for low-income drivers to win back their licenses.
Tags: Court Debt | Driver's license suspension

Chain Gang 2.0: If You Can’t Afford This GPS Ankle Bracelet, You Get Thrown In Jail

Feature (NATIONAL)

Chain Gang 2.0: If You Can’t Afford This GPS Ankle Bracelet, You Get Thrown In Jail

September 21, 2015 | Eric Markowitz | International Business Times (IB Times)
Some states now require people to pay for their own electronic monitoring once they bail out of jail. And if you miss a payment, you better watch out.
Tags: Court Debt | Debtors Prison

Court fees trap ex-inmates in a prison of debt

Feature

Court fees trap ex-inmates in a prison of debt

August 5, 2015 | E. Tammy Kim | Al Jazeera America
In Washington state, formerly incarcerated men and women face massive debts and a 12 percent interest rate.
Tags: Court Debt | Legal Financial Obligations

With Driver’s License Suspensions, a Cycle of Debt

News Story (California, NATIONAL, Tennessee)

With Driver’s License Suspensions, a Cycle of Debt

April 14, 2015 | Shaila Dewan | New York Times (NYT)
States have begun suspending drivers’ licenses for unsatisfied debts stemming from any criminal case, from misdemeanors like marijuana possession to felonies in which court costs can reach into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Tags: Civil Rights | Court Debt | Courts | Driver's license suspension | Legal Financial Obligations