From USC Dornsife:
Nearly every state requires incarcerated individuals to pay for room, board and basic services under so-called “pay-to-stay” laws. In 2019, Illinois became one of the first to repeal such a law — a move that prompted Brittany Friedman, assistant professor of sociology at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, to investigate what made that repeal possible.
Why it matters:
Research shows that charging inmates for their time in prison worsens economic hardship in marginalized communities, hinders rehabilitation efforts and fails to offset incarceration costs to the state.
As states shifted away from the tough-on-crime policies of the 1980s and ’90s, such as three-strikes laws and mandatory minimum sentences, the majority retained pay-to-stay fees as a potential source of revenue.
After reviewing its pay-to-stay laws, Illinois lawmakers found the policy failed to generate revenue.
The arguments that persuaded a bipartisan majority of legislators to repeal the law could inform similar efforts in other states.
Read Key Findings here >>>
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