Georgia and Alabama must cut all ties with an industry profiting off the poor and stop placing people on probation under the control of profit-hungry private companies.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are sentenced to probation, sometimes for violations as simple as traffic tickets. Instead of being able to just pay those fines and move on with their lives, many get sucked into spiraling debt traps they cannot escape. Here’s how it works: some counties in Georgia and Alabama let courts place people on probation under the control of for-profit companies who charge hefty fees, too often to those least able to afford them. A small traffic violation can become hundreds and hundreds of dollars in debt – the small fine going back to the court and the massive fees ending up in the for-profit company’s pocket.
If people can’t pay, they go to jail and taxpayers will end up footing the bill for this imprisonment! For those who are barely making ends meet, the choice is between being locked-up and lining the pockets of private probations companies.
The private probation racket isn’t benefiting society, it’s only benefiting these companies’ bottom line.
Sign this petition demanding that counties and other government officials stop giving courts a green light to place people on probation under the control of private companies!
From what we have learned so far, these are some judges who utilize private probation services. There will be more to come.