Benton County May Shut Doors on ‘Debtors Prison’
Benton County’s practice of jailing defendants for unpaid court fees appears to be ending.
County commissioners voted at a special meeting Wednesday to rescind the credit given to people sentenced to jail and work crews to pay outstanding fees. Judges from Benton County District Court agreed not to incarcerate anyone for the purpose of collecting fees.
“By resolution, the regulation does not exist because there is no day rate set,” Presiding Judge Katy Butler told the Herald.
Benton County Prosecutor Andy Miller and city prosecutors had requested the change, Miller said.
“I think the commissioners did a good thing today,” Miller said.
Benton County had been one of the few courts in the state to incarcerate people for failing to pay fees, which can total thousands of dollars, a practice some call a “debtors’ prison.” Other counties send debts to collection agencies.
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