court debt

Everyday Injustice Podcast Episode 330: How Court Debt Entrenches Poverty and Punishment

By David GreenwaldMay 12, 20260 comments

Episode 330 of the Everyday Injustice podcast, featuring host David Greenwald and legal experts, examined the criminal legal system’s utilization of fines and fees as both a punitive measure and a revenue generation mechanism. The discussion highlighted how this system, particularly through fees for mandatory services, disproportionately burdens low-income communities and communities of color, thereby perpetuating cycles of poverty and instability.

Jefferson County’s Fines and Fees System Ineffective, Report Finds

By Angelina TunNovember 28, 20250 comments

A new report on Jefferson County’s fines and fees system argues that U.S. courts’ reliance on monetary sanctions is ineffective at generating revenue and disproportionately harmful to Black and low-income residents, prompting action from Jefferson County officials and the creation of a statewide task force to review fines and fees policies.