Very weird that I am so old and have literally never heard this mentioned in a TV show or book or movie or anything.

In four out of five states, if you go to prison, you are literally paying for the time you spend there.

As you can guess, this results in crippling debt as soon as you’re released.

The county gets back a fraction of what they hold over your head the rest of your life until you commit suicide(or die naturally and peacefully with the sword of damocles hanging over your head).

$20-$80 a day according to Rutgers.

Counties apparently sue people and employ wage garnishment to get back the money that majority of people obviously cannot pay back.

https://www.rutgers.edu/news/states-unfairly-burdening-incarcerated-people-pay-stay-fees

  • InvaderDJ@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    The very idea is absurd. It is so counter productive to the idea of rehabilitation. The prisons themselves say they aren’t a significant revenue stream. Trying to offset the cost of a societal need by charging fees to prisons doesn’t even make any sense. And the companies that are tasked with collecting this debt get 70% of what they collect which means that even the argument about offsetting the state’s cost doesn’t make sense.

    It’s profit seeking, counter productive cruelty and that’s it. Just shameful.

  • elephantium@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    I read the wiki page. Pretty barebones, but it did link to https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34705968

    In theory, I could entertain an argument about having criminals repay some of the costs of dealing with them, that’s not what’s going on here.

    The sum that is able to be collected doesn’t go straight into the county coffers, either - the jail contracts with a company

    The jail gets 30%, the company gets 70%.

    It really just looks like just another way to exploit prisoners for profit.

  • nucleative@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Might be somewhat acceptable if a job was available while in prison to support these living expenses. That at least might improve confidence and start the rehabilitation process.

    Oh wait, who am I kidding. Prison has nothing to do with rehabilitation.

    • Ephera@lemmy.ml
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      7 months ago

      In particular, to force you back into crime, to be able to pay for that debt.

        • aodhsishaj@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          Absolutely, I mean I’m already a felon, what’s one more barrier to credit and gainful employment?

          • olav@theweird.space
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            7 months ago

            @aodhsishaj @metaStatic bankruptcy is by far not the worse thing you can do. Often trying to unbury yourself will take longer to get back to solvency.

            We had to medical B out. Get cancer these days, particularly with a $6K+ deductible for a PPO and you’re toast. We managed to switch to a HMO before surgery and we were still toast. And I had a Good Job.

            File, get a pre-paid card then some high-interest you barely use, then some “normal” credit and it builds faster than you know

            • olav@theweird.space
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              7 months ago

              @aodhsishaj @metaStatic

              If you think bankruptcy is bad, look at all the rich people and corps that do it as often as possible

              Edit: I mean Herr Trumptard has filed no less than six times to avoid paying people

              • jkrtn@lemmy.ml
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                7 months ago

                Did Donald file for personal bankruptcy or did a Donald business file for bankruptcy? It might be like stealing: legal and cool if you are a corporation and the victims are poors.

                • Audacious@sh.itjust.works
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                  7 months ago

                  Corporations have more rights than the people, and rich people hide behind their companies. So, without looking it up, I’m guessing trump business.

              • I Cast Fist@programming.dev
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                7 months ago

                Rich people never pay what they owe, especially if they owe it to the gov’t. Unlike poor people, the police doesn’t knock on their door to get the money.

  • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    That’s the beauty of both ruling parties being 100% in support of the prison industrial complex. In fact, our current president even helped usher through the '94 Crime Bill, which keeps prisons nice and full for his golf buddies and institutional donors.

    • Ookami38@sh.itjust.works
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      7 months ago

      Remember, though, that people, opinions, and political landscapes can change. Yes, Biden was pretty shit back in the 90s, but it actually feels a little bit like he’s trying to move back in the other direction. Don’t gotta forget the bad, but also can’t forget the (attempts at) good

      • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        Remember, though, that people, opinions, and political landscapes can change.

        Yeah, but Biden hasn’t.

        Remember when he mocked ‘Defund the Police’ in his first state of the union address?

        He’s an authoritarian. Always has been, and he’s been a reliable vote in favor of every regressive piece of legislation that’s led the country to this point, where fascism is becoming normalized.

        • laughterlaughter@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          Oh, please. If he was an authoritarian, he would behave like Trump or any other authoritarian ruler out there.

          Remember when Trump was president? He would kick reporters out of the white house, or tear gas people in front of the white house for a photo op. He said stuff like “I totally won’t do this,” then the very following day, he would do that. His speech was divisive. Should I go on?

      • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        I vote third party.

        Choosing between a giant douche and a turd sandwich isn’t very appealing to me.

        Also, people like you pretending you didn’t need the votes of people like me is how we got Trump in the first place.

        • fukurthumz420@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          sure. hold humanity hostage because you can’t get exactly what you want, traitor. i’m not going to kiss your ass to vote for practical results. if you’re too blind to see what you’re doing, you can live with the consequences. i have a feeling you have a lot more time left on this planet than i do, junior.

        • fukurthumz420@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          criticize him all you want… after he’s elected.

          we all hate the either/or state of american politics, but it’s still the reality. live in reality, ppl.

          • goldenlocks@lemmy.world
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            7 months ago

            You consent to all these issues with your vote for Dems. I on the other hand will express democracy by voting for a candidate that opposes this: Jill Stein.

                • Olgratin_Magmatoe@lemmy.world
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                  7 months ago

                  Biden or Trump winning is a major loss.

                  They aren’t equal. They’re both shit, but they aren’t equal. And I don’t know about you, but I’d rather keep my right to vote, which is under threat thanks to the likes of Trump.

                  Instead build a better party instead of complaining.

                  Not seeing anything you’ve built. All I see is you complaining about Biden and Trump.

                  If you want better, we need electoral reform. Our current system is mathematically biased against third parties.

            • fukurthumz420@lemmy.world
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              7 months ago

              you mean to tell me you’re going to vote for jill stein in november? what state do you live in? it better not be a battle ground state