In jail for being in debt [View All]

[Lucian]

http://www.startribune.com/investigators/95692619.html?elr=KArksUUUycaEacyU

You committed no crime, but an officer is knocking on your door. More Minnesotans are surprised to find themselves being locked up over debts.

By CHRIS SERRES and GLENN HOWATT , Star Tribune staff writers
Last update: June 9, 2010 - 7:58 AM

As a sheriff's deputy dumped the contents of Joy Uhlmeyer's purse into a sealed bag, she begged to know why she had just been arrested while driving home to Richfield after an Easter visit with her elderly mother.

No one had an answer. Uhlmeyer spent a sleepless night in a frigid Anoka County holding cell, her hands tucked under her armpits for warmth. Then, handcuffed in a squad car, she was taken to downtown Minneapolis for booking. Finally, after 16 hours in limbo, jail officials fingerprinted Uhlmeyer and explained her offense -- missing a court hearing over an unpaid debt. "They have no right to do this to me," said the 57-year-old patient care advocate, her voice as soft as a whisper. "Not for a stupid credit card."

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This is insane. Seems like they're bringing back debtor's prison. How can they do this? Especially over a $250 credit card debt. They'd rather waste taxpayer money to put people in jail. Ugh. I'm willing to bet you'll never find CEOs of failed banks going to jail over their debt...:grr: