Very weird that I am so old and have literally never heard this mentioned in a TV show or book or movie or anything.

In four out of five states, if you go to prison, you are literally paying for the time you spend there.

As you can guess, this results in crippling debt as soon as you’re released.

The county gets back a fraction of what they hold over your head the rest of your life until you commit suicide(or die naturally and peacefully with the sword of damocles hanging over your head).

$20-$80 a day according to Rutgers.

Counties apparently sue people and employ wage garnishment to get back the money that majority of people obviously cannot pay back.

https://www.rutgers.edu/news/states-unfairly-burdening-incarcerated-people-pay-stay-fees

  • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Oh here in America they have to hold a job. If they work really hard they may even make a few dollars a day

    • Queen HawlSera@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      It’s actual the one instance where slavery is legal, and most prisoners are black because of obvious racial bias in the court system… I wonder if that’s a concidence…

      • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Well after they’re done shaking down your loved ones too. It’s ok together you can all theoretically scrape together enough to keep you fed