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Chicago Families Are Not For Auction
Chicago Families Are Not For Auction
By Fatima Monteiro Chicago is preparing to sell nearly $1 billion of debt stemming from unpaid fines and fees to private buyers in exchange for an estimated $85 million upfront. Th…
This Work Takes Bravery
This Work Takes Bravery
by: Priya Sarathy Jones I have always been a bit wary of working with businesses in the pursuit of justice. Here in the United States, businesses are among the most influential and…
Recognizing Women as the Bedrock
Recognizing Women as the Bedrock
by: Joanna Weiss and Tanisha Pierrette Throughout March, we celebrate the history and achievements of women. Too often, the remarkable strength and tenacity required for women’ s e…
From the Philippines to the U.S.: Lessons on Fines and Fees Reform from the Second National Decongestion Summit
From the Philippines to the U.S.: Lessons on Fines and Fees Reform from the Second National Decongestion Summit
By Joanna Weiss In January, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) sponsored the Philippines’ Second National Decongestion Summit in Manila to generate conc…
Bipartisanship at Work: A Decade of Fines and Fees Reform
Bipartisanship at Work: A Decade of Fines and Fees Reform
In an era marked by deep political divisions, certain issues transcend partisan boundaries, uniting leaders in pursuit of common-sense reforms. The movement to eliminate burdensome…
DOJ’s Dear Colleague Letter is As Relevant As Ever. It’s Time We Remind Courts and Judges.
DOJ’s Dear Colleague Letter is As Relevant As Ever. It’s Time We Remind Courts and Judges.
by: Lisa Foster, Co-Executive Director of the Fines and Fees Justice Center The U.S. Department of Justice has repeatedly warned state and local courts that their use and collectio…
Why Are We Still Sending People to Jail for Being Poor? It’s Time to Truly Abolish Debtors’ Prisons
Why Are We Still Sending People to Jail for Being Poor? It’s Time to Truly Abolish Debtors’ Prisons
While courts continue to impose fines and fees, we need to be sure that they aren’t trapping people in a cycle of debt, punishment, and incarceration that is difficult to escape. E…
Mayor Bowser Made a Wrong Turn on Traffic Safety. A Real Task Force Can Get DC Moving in the Right Direction.
Mayor Bowser Made a Wrong Turn on Traffic Safety. A Real Task Force Can Get DC Moving in the Right Direction.
In Washington, DC, my Mayor, Muriel Bowser, just rolled out a plan to install 342 more traffic cameras throughout the city. And while the Mayor said that she hopes “we don’t collec…
FFJC Op-Ed: Why Is the Nevada Department of Corrections Profiting off Struggling Families?
FFJC Op-Ed: Why Is the Nevada Department of Corrections Profiting off Struggling Families?
Most people probably assume that necessities like food and emergency medical care are provided for people locked up in prisons and jails. In Nevada, they come at a steep cost — and…
FFJC Op-Ed: Policing-for-Profit Undermines Public Safety. This Town Shows A Better Way.
FFJC Op-Ed: Policing-for-Profit Undermines Public Safety. This Town Shows A Better Way.
FFJC Op-Ed: Policing-for-Profit Undermines Public Safety. This Town Shows A Better Way. By Chief James Small (police chief and public safety director of Palmyra, Wisconsin) and Joa…
