Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDebt Company Makes Sheriffs Rich by Jailing the Poor, Lawsuit Claims
Debt Company Makes Sheriffs Rich by Jailing the Poor, Lawsuit ClaimsA private company increases debts by 30 percent, then tells Oklahomans to pay up or go to jail. Law enforcement is in its pocket, a new lawsuit claims.
Kelly Weill 11.09.17 5:00 AM ET
Ira Wilkins should be a free man. Wilkins has served his time in an Oklahoma prison and is clear for release. But a private court fee collections agency is keeping him behind bars.
Wilkins is the lead plaintiff in a new racketeering lawsuit against the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association, every sheriffs department in the state, and the court fee collections firm Aberdeen Enterprizes II. When Oklahomans owe court fees, their case is assigned to Aberdeen, which charges them an additional 30 percent on top of what courts want. If they dont pay, Aberdeen requests a warrant for the debtors arrest. Its big business for Aberdeen and the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association, which received more than $800,000 from Aberdeen in 2015.
But while Aberdeen and the OSA strike it rich, poor Oklahomans are languishing in modern day debtors prison, the lawsuit alleges.
These plaintiffs are victims of an extortion scheme in which the Defendants have conspired to extract as much money as possible from indigent people through a pattern of illegal and unconscionable behavior, the suit filed last week in federal court alleges.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/debt-company-makes-sheriffs-rich-by-jailing-the-poor-lawsuit-claims
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
5 replies, 742 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (14)
ReplyReply to this post
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Debt Company Makes Sheriffs Rich by Jailing the Poor, Lawsuit Claims (Original Post)
workinclasszero
Nov 2017
OP
Stuart G
(38,454 posts)1. Ugly story of greed. But true. k and r. Worth reading and it gets uglier and uglier as one reads.
People who are trying to pay fines, as best they can, are thrown into jail if they don't pay all of the fine, plus a 30 percent add on by the company collecting the fines. The add on is split between the company and the sheriffs association that uses the money for its own selfish purposes.
lpbk2713
(42,772 posts)2. Where is Dickens when we need him?
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)3. No kidding
Redstate hell, everything for the rich, chains and virtual slavery for the poor.
TheDebbieDee
(11,119 posts)4. For-profit prisons! Got to keep their occupancy
Rate up...
oasis
(49,454 posts)5. Oklahoma. nt