Hate speed traps and tickets? These people are fighting back.
Doraville, Georgia, a 10,000-person suburb of Atlanta, has become notorious for its revenue-generating speed traps and housing code enforcement cases.
Why does the US still have ‘debtors’ prisons’?
This video describes how people, especially those of fewer means, can be jailed for unpaid court fines and fees.
How Chicago Ticket Debt Sends Black Motorists Into Bankruptcy
Filing for bankruptcy to avoid car impoundments and or a boot that immobilizes their vehicle has become a popular “remedy” for Chicago drivers who can’t afford to pay off debt from traffic tickets, parking violations, and vehicle compliance infractions.
A Debtor’s Prison: Court fees and minor fines are leading to debilitating cycles of incarceration in the US
This short documentary film tells the story of two St. Louis women who were unjustly incarcerated because of failure to pay their fines and fees.
How Prosecutors Score a Windfall Turning Small Tickets into Big Fees
Since 2010, dozens of cities in California have hired a private law firm to prosecute people on the city’s behalf for municipal code violation and in civil forfeiture cases.
Durham Driver Amnesty Program
The Durham County District Attorney’s office and the Bloomberg-funded Durham Innovation Team partnered to create the Durham Driver Amnesty Program. In its pilot phase, the District Attorney dismissed 2,500 pending charges for eligible participants which kept them from obtaining their driver’s license.
The Price of Being Poor: How Fines and Fees Entrench Inequality and What Has to Change [Panel]
As part of the Aspen Institute’s 2017 Summit on Inequality and Opportunity, this panel discussion was convened to discuss problems posed by fines and fees practices. During the panel, Rev. …
$23,000 in traffic fines reduced to $9 for man as pilot program takes on New Orleans’ court system
In March 2017, New Orleans nonprofit Stand with Dignity sponsored a Warrant Clinic in New Orleans. Over 1,200 people (who owed an average of $8,000 in fines and fees) participated in the clinic.
Past Due: Examining the Costs and Consequences of Charging for Justice in New Orleans
This video discusses how New Orleans residents get trapped in the city’s court system because of their lack of financial means.
Past Due: Examining the Costs and Consequences of Charging for Justice in New Orleans
This report documents the amount New Orleans residents pay in bail, fines and fees, traces where the money goes, and calculates how much the city spends to jail people who cannot pay.