Making the Case for the Abolition of Court Fees w Priya Sarathy Jones

Previously on the show, Hunter spoke with Marea Beeman about the dangerous fines and fees that make “free” attorneys decidedly not “free”. Today, Hunter sat down with Priya Sarathy Jones, Deputy Executive Director of the Fines and Fees Justice Center, to do an even deeper dive on the hidden costs that come with any interaction with the legal system. Since the Reagan administration, local communities, starved of federal support, began using the legal system to generate revenue. From that point on, more and more fees that have nothing to do with restitution to victims of crimes have been added to our legal system. As a result, a simple interaction with the legal system now carries a high risk of getting trapped in a cycle of poverty and debt.