By Marie Claire
In American society, prisons and their inmates are often written off as drains on society, both morally and fiscally, but the reality is much more complicated than this. Two main complications stand in opposition to this idea: prisoners’ debt upon release and the privatization of prisons and prison services.
Prisoner Debt, Bankruptcy, and Recidivism
Generally, the populace expects certain fees when an individual is convicted of a crime, ranging from fines and fees for court proceedings to costs for attorneys or public defenders. However, the fees never end in the courtroom. Many newly released inmates emerge with at least tens of thousands of dollars in debt for varying reasons, between room and board, cost of phone calls, and in some cases their own medical care and drug rehabilitation. In Florida, the law allows for prisons to charge inmates up to fifty dollars a day for the space they take up in prison, and forty-three other states authorize charging inmates for their room and board. In New Jersey, one man was charged $10,000 for his substance abuse treatment in prison on top of the myriad of other costs.
The cost of incarceration and limited job availability for convicted criminals combine to create an extremely precarious financial situation for those just exiting prison. As previously mentioned, the man from New Jersey racked up tens of thousands of dollars in debt, and as he struggled to make ends meet while also attempting to pay off his debt from prison, he was forced to file for bankruptcy. Many others in the country face financial fates similar to this man and are forced to file for bankruptcy, while many others still end up homeless as the debts pile up.
In addition to the financial ramifications on former inmates, these debts deepen the connection between these individuals and the system of incarceration. They are unable to fully escape the grasp of these institutions as the threat of these debts continuously looms over them. This threat brought forth by debt can lead to increased rates of recidivism in two main ways. First, due to the crushing debt, individuals often struggle to make ends meet and thus often must stay in poverty-stricken areas with higher crime rates. Second, monetary sanctions are treated the same way all other sanctions are when an individual is on probation and can lead to more punishment for the individual.
Profiting off of Prisons
Prisons are often portrayed as a massive money leech, but in actuality, municipalities and private companies alike are given the opportunity to profit off of prisoners. By forfeiting assets, contracting with private companies for many provided services, and paying far below minimum wage to prison workers for the jobs they do, money is amassed within this system. Private companies may profit off of charges for phone use while some prisons themselves charge for family and friend visits, thus making money back. Additionally, as with most charges, these debts typically involve interest, making it increasingly more difficult for former inmates to pay back prisons while prisons are given the opportunity to profit even more. Fundamentally, prison debt is used to benefit these institutions which are meant to be responsible for the rehabilitation of prison populations.
Sources:
Basti, Kara Gotsch and Vinay. “Capitalizing on Mass Incarceration: U.S. Growth in Private Prisons.” The Sentencing Project, 2 Aug. 2018, www.sentencingproject.org/publications/capitalizing-on-mass-incarceration-u-s-growth-in-private-prisons/.
“Costly Prison Fees Are Putting Inmates Deep in Debt.” CNNMoney, Cable News Network, money.cnn.com/2015/09/18/news/economy/prison-fees-inmates-debt/index.html.
Lantigua-Williams, Juleyka. “How Fines and Fees Trap Offenders.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 2 June 2016, www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/06/how-prison-debt-ensnares-offenders/484826/.
Murch, Donna. “Paying for Punishment.” Boston Review, 14 Oct. 2016, bostonreview.net/us/donna-murch-paying-punishment?utm_content=buffer728b1.
Schwartztol, Larry, and Abby Shafroth. The Formerly Incarcerated Are Facing Crippling Prison Debt When They Get Out, and It Needs to Stop. 10 Oct. 2016, slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/10/the-burden-of-prison-debt-on-the-formerly-incarcerated.html.
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