Think Debtors Prisons Are a Thing of the Past? Not in Mississippi

Re:Think Debtors Prisons Are a Thing of the Past? Not in Mis... by Clubber on Sunday January 12, 2020 @03:17AM (#22025152)

Sadly, this happens in a lot of states. If you owe a fine and don't pay it because you can't, they'll keep tacking on interest until it reaches a certain limit, then throw you in jail.

Our current state of government scares the hell out of me.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Think Debtors Prisons Are a Thing of the Past? Not in Mis... by csense on Sunday January 12, 2020 @06:29PM (#22030489)

What's the alternative? Fines and jail are basically the legal system's two main options for punishment.

If a poor person commits a crime, that's not serious enough to throw them in jail, what should the legal system do?

It seems like "If you're poor, you can commit non-felony crimes without consequences" seems like a REAL bad policy idea.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Think Debtors Prisons Are a Thing of the Past? Not in Mis... by Clubber on Sunday January 12, 2020 @06:58PM (#22030664)

Depends. If it's car related, revoke the license until the payment is made. Maybe do what the debt collectors do and harass them on the phone or garnish wages. Another thought, maybe we shouldn't make so many things crimes. We only do it to pay for the obscenely large justice and policing system. To me it just seems like a jobs program with a very steep societal cost.

I would think throwing someone in jail who owes money for a fine is very counter productive, considering how much it costs to incarcerate and jail someone. It's like spending $5000 to not collect a $500 debt. We aren't very good at government.

[ Parent | on HN ]