From the Brennan Center for Justice:
In their essay introducing the Brennan Center series on Punitive Excess, Jeremy Travis and Bruce Western ask readers to question the purpose of punishment. They write, “punishment describes not just what criminal justice institutions do, but also signifies a relationship between the state and its citizens.”
Few aspects of the criminal legal system illustrate that as vividly as the system of monetary sanctions, which requires financial payments from most people who make contact with the criminal legal system. In addition to fines associated with specific offenses, they are charged for their court processing, for DNA testing, for required post-sentencing rehabilitative programs (such as drug and alcohol assessment and treatment), and even in some instances for the costs of incarceration itself. To use Travis and Western’s measure, the relationship between the state and citizen in this country, particularly when the citizen is poor or racialized, is one of control, marginalization, and perpetual punishment.
In most states, all monetary sanctions must be paid in full before a person is released from court supervision. In many states, people are unable to vote until all costs are paid. They must remain in constant communication with court officials about their living and financial arrangements. Not only are monetary sanctions frequently appended to jail or prison time, so are costs associated with probation and other court mandated requirements, such as electronic home monitoring. Continue reading >>>
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