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

themarshallproject.org

11–20 of 138 posts

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

#11

How is this constitutional?

13th Amendment Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted , shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

I don't think failing to pay a debt is a "crime" under American law.

Edit: reading the article, these people have failed to pay the fines associated with criminal convictions.

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

#14

From what I understand there are a metric fuckton of people imprisoned for inability to pay child support, so I'd say debtor prisons aren't limited to Mississippi.

People in other states who are imprisoned for inability to pay child support, etc. are released at the end of a finite sentence; they are not held indefinitely until they pay off an ever-increasing debt to the state at a low wage job. That's what defines debtors prisons.

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

#15
post #7

The more I read about "justice" in the US the more I realise how fucked up and perverted the concept of justice is in that country. We're always quick to criticise other countries for the failings or bad design of their justice system and lack of respect for human rights, but are we much better? We might be better on paper, but is that actually reflected in reality? I'm not so sure.

>but are we much better?

Generally yes.

Worldwide the bar is not high.

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

#16
post #15
post #7

The more I read about "justice" in the US the more I realise how fucked up and perverted the concept of justice is in that country. We're always quick to criticise other countries for the failings or bad design of their justice system and lack of respect for human rights, but are we much better? We might be better on paper, but is that actually reflected in reality? I'm not so sure.

>but are we much better? Generally yes. Worldwide the bar is not high.

Only if you consider having the highest percentage of population in incarcerated as winning.

United States represents about 4.4 percent of the world's population, it houses around 22 percent of the world's prisoners. So yay go USA!

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

#17

From what I understand there are a metric fuckton of people imprisoned for inability to pay child support, so I'd say debtor prisons aren't limited to Mississippi.

People in other states who are imprisoned for inability to pay child support, etc. are released at the end of a finite sentence; they are not held indefinitely until they pay off an ever-increasing debt to the state at a low wage job. That's what defines debtors prisons.

One is certainly more severe than the other, but in either case if people are getting imprisoned over debts, it seems like a pretty shitty situation. Do you disagree?

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

#18
post #16
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>but are we much better? Generally yes. Worldwide the bar is not high.

Only if you consider having the highest percentage of population in incarcerated as winning. United States represents about 4.4 percent of the world's population, it houses around 22 percent of the world's prisoners. So yay go USA!

There's lots of space between recognizing a system is better than most and "So yay go USA!"

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

#19
post #16
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>but are we much better? Generally yes. Worldwide the bar is not high.

Only if you consider having the highest percentage of population in incarcerated as winning. United States represents about 4.4 percent of the world's population, it houses around 22 percent of the world's prisoners. So yay go USA!

In that regard sure we arent the best. But there are far worse countries.

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

#20
post #7

The more I read about "justice" in the US the more I realise how fucked up and perverted the concept of justice is in that country. We're always quick to criticise other countries for the failings or bad design of their justice system and lack of respect for human rights, but are we much better? We might be better on paper, but is that actually reflected in reality? I'm not so sure.

If you get convicted for embezzlement, as in the first example in the article, and don't pay your fines and restitution, what do you think the courts should do?
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