This is disgusting. It says something about how privileged I am that I had no idea that this was a thing. The idea that we would take someone, incarcerate them for a crime, then charge them for it...
This is disgusting. It says something about how privileged I am that I had no idea that this was a thing. The idea that we would take someone, incarcerate them for a crime, then charge them for it is obscene on the face of it. Many convictions can come with a financial penalty along with a prison sentence. Tacking on additional financial penalties as a "bonus" seems like a violation of due process, prevents people from making their lives better. And on top of that it doesn't appear that the justification used (eg "it helps defray the state's costs") isn't even valid since the article mentions that most of the states don't even bother to pursue it. Which makes it even more insulting and malicious if they do.
Aaaand add in that the US has a very expensive prison system. Now, I'm not eager enough to look up stats right now, but it seems to me that with the massive amount of private, for-profit prisons,...
Aaaand add in that the US has a very expensive prison system. Now, I'm not eager enough to look up stats right now, but it seems to me that with the massive amount of private, for-profit prisons, costs are bound to be above what is necessary.
I mean, if I have to pay for my own incarceration, I should have a right to pick my poison, right? Rent a nice home, weld the door shut, food comes via delivery. I'll be cheaper than the $249 per day. Isn't that good stewardship of the state's funds?
Why does it cost 250 US dollars for a day in prison? That is way more than the average hotel in the US. That's 7500 USD a month! For that price, if you're under a consequentialist view instead of...
Why does it cost 250 US dollars for a day in prison? That is way more than the average hotel in the US.
That's 7500 USD a month!
For that price, if you're under a consequentialist view instead of a punitive one, it might be cheaper to just pay people not to commit crimes. I'm pretty sure, IDK, 5000 bucks a month would probably be a very effective crime prevention measure.
Absolutely, UBI would remove the incentive for a lot of crime! But I wonder how many crimes fall under the 1000 US dollars stipulation. If I got 500 a month pickpocketing, a 1000 dollars allowance...
Absolutely, UBI would remove the incentive for a lot of crime! But I wonder how many crimes fall under the 1000 US dollars stipulation. If I got 500 a month pickpocketing, a 1000 dollars allowance might make an honest man out of me. However, if I got 10k a month selling cocaine, or 1 million committing financial crimes, UBI wouldn't be nearly enough for that to happen.
“I’m about to be homeless,” said Beatty, 58, who in March became the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the state law that charges prisoners $249 a day for the cost of their incarceration. “I just don’t think it’s right, because I feel I already paid my debt to society. I just don’t think it’s fair for me to be paying twice.”
All but two states have so-called “pay-to-stay” laws that make prisoners pay for their time behind bars, though not every state actually pursues people for the money. Supporters say the collections are a legitimate way for states to recoup millions of taxpayer dollars spent on prisons and jails.
Many people are also surprised to learn that when a persons kids go into foster care they have to pay the state for it (also by the day if I remember). It's pretty clear that 99% of them can't pay...
Many people are also surprised to learn that when a persons kids go into foster care they have to pay the state for it (also by the day if I remember). It's pretty clear that 99% of them can't pay what the state asks for, but they make them pay whatever they can get out of them.
Worst of all they have to prove they can financially provide for the kids, which is that much harder when your already paying for them to be in foster care.
This is disgusting. It says something about how privileged I am that I had no idea that this was a thing. The idea that we would take someone, incarcerate them for a crime, then charge them for it is obscene on the face of it. Many convictions can come with a financial penalty along with a prison sentence. Tacking on additional financial penalties as a "bonus" seems like a violation of due process, prevents people from making their lives better. And on top of that it doesn't appear that the justification used (eg "it helps defray the state's costs") isn't even valid since the article mentions that most of the states don't even bother to pursue it. Which makes it even more insulting and malicious if they do.
Aaaand add in that the US has a very expensive prison system. Now, I'm not eager enough to look up stats right now, but it seems to me that with the massive amount of private, for-profit prisons, costs are bound to be above what is necessary.
I mean, if I have to pay for my own incarceration, I should have a right to pick my poison, right? Rent a nice home, weld the door shut, food comes via delivery. I'll be cheaper than the $249 per day. Isn't that good stewardship of the state's funds?
Oh and don't forget the <$1 hr forced labor! That'll be sure to give them a leg up /s
I read something once that sums this up perfectly: We do not have a justice system, we have a penal system.
Why does it cost 250 US dollars for a day in prison? That is way more than the average hotel in the US.
That's 7500 USD a month!
For that price, if you're under a consequentialist view instead of a punitive one, it might be cheaper to just pay people not to commit crimes. I'm pretty sure, IDK, 5000 bucks a month would probably be a very effective crime prevention measure.
Oh no. UBI got invented again.
Absolutely, UBI would remove the incentive for a lot of crime! But I wonder how many crimes fall under the 1000 US dollars stipulation. If I got 500 a month pickpocketing, a 1000 dollars allowance might make an honest man out of me. However, if I got 10k a month selling cocaine, or 1 million committing financial crimes, UBI wouldn't be nearly enough for that to happen.
Topical: https://tild.es/12eo
Many people are also surprised to learn that when a persons kids go into foster care they have to pay the state for it (also by the day if I remember). It's pretty clear that 99% of them can't pay what the state asks for, but they make them pay whatever they can get out of them.
Worst of all they have to prove they can financially provide for the kids, which is that much harder when your already paying for them to be in foster care.