Stop eroding faith in gov’t: DOJ warns courts about fining & jailing poor people

Stop eroding faith in gov’t: DOJ warns courts about fining & jailing poor people

The US Justice Department cautioned local courts that it is unconstitutional to jail someone for not paying fines without determining whether they are able to pay, and warned against using court fees to generate revenue for cities.

The warnings came as part of an effort to reform court practices that “perpetuate poverty and result in unnecessary deprivations of liberty,” the Justice Department said.