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States looking to capture fees through criminal justice systems

By Douglas A. Berman

The New York Times has this interesting piece on real-world economics in some state courts.  The piece is headlined, "Pinched Courts Push to Collect Fees and Fines," and here is how it starts: Valerie Gainous paid her debt to society, but almost went to jail because of a debt to Florida?s courts. In 1996, she was convicted of writing bad checks; she paid restitution, performed community service and thought she was finished with the criminal justice system. This year, however, she received a letter from Collections Court telling her that she was once again facing jail time ? this time for failing to pay $240 in leftover court fees and fines, which she says she cannot afford. Ms. Gainous has been caught up in the state?s exceptionally aggressive system to collect the court fines and fees that keep its judiciary system working...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on April 07, 2009 (boomark / email).