It’s not about rapists and murderers.
It’s about people jailed for fines and the like.
In South Carolina, 12 out of every 100 prisoners is there for failure to pay child support.
They’re charged with a felony and imprisoned - many of whom paid faithfully until they lost their jobs or were too sick to work. The court is merciless.
So now these men have a felony on their record. If the court thought they’d have a tough time paying child support before, just wait.
12.5% of all inmates are there because of child support. They get out and that’s the end of their lives. They *should* be able to get jobs and go on with their lives. That’s a BIG hunk of the prison population.
The problem is that we live in a zero tolerance society with zero common sense. We jail people for every freaking thing. Can’t pay your speeding ticket? Throw ‘em in jail! Can’t afford child support? Lock ‘em up!
Cover their record with a permanent taint of ‘felony’ and deny them their right to bear arms for life and make it so that the only job they can get is in a road side diner...
That’ll teach ‘em.
The problem is that we’re a one trick pony at this point and the people are starting to get fed up.
Jail should not be the only option for punishment in a society.
Thank you for this explanation.
People who don’t pay child support are picked up on something like contempt of court. Usually they sign an agreement to pay an agreed upon amount - then don’t pay. They’re jailed until they pay an amount set my the court. It’s amazing how most of these guys are out within 24 hours...
I’ve never heard of a person going to prison for not paying child support. Jail - yes. Prison - no.