Ted Rall for June 24, 2015
June 22, 2015
June 25, 2015
Transcript:
Many municipalities found their jails by charging prisoners for the cost of their own confinement. (Police Officer: Your bill for your "reception fee" and your "pay-to-stay" fee. You're "free") In N.W. Ohio, for example, prisons charge inmates $68.76/day, due upon release. Spend a year; you come out owing $25,000. (woman: Are they crazy?!?) (Man: Clearly) Most prisoners were poor before going to jail. All have trouble finding work afterward. The only way to pay their jail debt is to commit a crime. (Robber: Make sure you give me at least $25,000!!) If they can't pay, a judge issues an arrest warrant- and they go back to jail. (Judge: I'm fining you $50,000 for your inability to pay $25,000) (Man 2: This is why they call it a criminal justice system.)
