Throwing people in jail for being unemployed and unable to pay a debt should be unconstitutional. I understand it is allowed for political reasons,to get judges and prosecutors elected. Why is it allowed by the general public?
2007-07-22 16:35:36 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Two people got it. Ruth and Avail. BTW Ruth the deadbeat term is a political tool to get votes. In no way does throwing someone in jail for being unable to pay benefit a child.
2007-07-22 16:55:25 · update #1
The public does not support the child in all cases.
2007-07-22 16:57:09 · update #2
Coaster. Mr Kitty thanks you he is old and lovable
2007-07-22 16:59:49 · update #3
They get around that debtor's prison thing being unconstitutional by calling it "contempt of court" if you don't pay a debt by the time the judge tells you to.
Been there done that a long time ago with a medical bill. As soon as the date came and i didn't have the full payment made, a warrant was issued, i was picked up, spent some time in jail, and got ordered to pay $400 on the debt within 30 days. Yeah $400 to pay within 30 days after losing my job for going to jail. Paid every two weeks and one paycheck held back made that pretty much impossible. this continued every 30 days until i disapeared, by moving to the other side of the country. I got a job and was actually able to keep it, and pay my bill. made age 18 and 19 the worst years of my life.
2007-07-22 16:47:07 · answer #1 · answered by avail_skillz 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Committing a crime is usually a prerequisite for jail time. Hauling people to jail because they can't pay a debt isn't legal, as far as I know. Employment or unemployment has absolutely no bearing on jail time. Vagrancy is a crime that can have jail time attached to it, however. Anyone who is charged with anything has a right to know what they are being charged with. If they are being picked up for being in debt and unemployed any public defender can have them out in 15 seconds or less. Jail time for debt doesn't repay the debt. Seizure of property by court order is more likely to repay what is owed.
2007-07-22 16:44:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
corporations were giving the same rights as individuals ,shouldn't of happened , go into a store and see the sign saying u will go to jail if u bounce a check, yet Ive had employers bounce paychecks and they never saw a day of jail and i had to pay the fee to clear my pay check , America is more on the side of the corporation and not the citizens of this country
2007-07-22 17:03:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I had no idea America had a debtor's prison. Now I have some research to do. By the way, I love your grey kitty.
2007-07-22 16:41:06 · answer #4 · answered by CoasterGal 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Your link?
2007-07-22 16:43:01 · answer #5 · answered by American Man 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Do you have specifics? It is illegal to put someone in jail simply for failing to pay a debt.
There are exceptions, and one is child support. Another can be a violated condition of probation (person on probation who fails to get a job and pay back court costs).
ADDED: The reason is one of public policy. Dead-beat parents' children are being supported by the public.
2007-07-22 16:41:14 · answer #6 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋
It is unconstitutional.
What makes you think it's not?
See among other cases:
Bank of U.S. v. Weisiger, 27 U.S. 331 (1829)
Freeman v. U.S., 217 U.S. 539 (1910)
2007-07-22 16:41:29 · answer #7 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well this happens to people who spend beyond their means.
if this was uncostitutional why would anybody bother to save money or get a job/ education; if they cant be sent to jail then it's just 'a free ride'
eventually this would lead to a version of 'black friday' (stockmarket crash); all banks would be bankrupted if people just got loans or credit and never paid it back.
2007-07-22 16:41:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
i don't think people are in jail just for not paying debts
2007-07-22 16:40:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I did not think we had such a prison.
2007-07-22 16:41:44 · answer #10 · answered by margaret moon 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋