debtors' prison in the US

[firecat]

This is not OK.

http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/04/19/aclu-discovers-illegal-debtors-prisons-in-ohio/

Excerpts:A new report by the ACLU reveals that “debtors’ prisons” in Ohio. The phrase refers to the

Comments

[hitchhiker]

that's sad, but not shocking :( poor people get pushed around by everyone; why should the law be any exception.

[johnpalmer]

It should be shocking, though. That it's not is an even worse situation.

[firecat]

I am not shocked that it happens because I know someone it happened to, but I am shocked that states keep such poor budgeting records that they don't know how much this is costing them.

I don't know, there's this part of me that persists in thinking the organizations human beings form are capable of being a little competent and compassionate.

[johnpalmer]

It *is* possible to be competent and compassionate, but budgets have been so tight for so long (meaning less staffing and longer hours) that I think even the best, most compassionate people could be exhausted.

And it's hard to advocate for "criminals"... even though violent crime's been decreasing for a long time, and there are so many pointless crimes.

[firecat]

I consider the tight budgets part of the lack of competence and compassion I'm talking about. IOW I'm talking about a systemic lack of competence/compassion, not about individuals who are employed in the system.

[johnpalmer]

Heh. I believe the appropriate vernacular is "true that."