Debtors »
The Shackles Return: Why Debtors’ Prisons Are Making An American Comeback
The debtors’ prison is an old, decrepit institution that many thought was abolished in the 19th century, something little more than a relic of the past. This is a problematic view for two reasons.
Read More »The Town That Turned Poverty Into a Prison Sentence
Most states shut down their debtors’ prisons more than 100 years ago; in 2005, Harpersville, Alabama, opened one back up. At the single stoplight in Harpersville, Alabama, Debra Shoemaker Ford saw the police lights flash.
Read More »Debtors Prisons In The US Are Rapidly Filling With People Who Can’t Pay Bills
How did breast cancer survivor Lisa Lindsay end up behind bars? She didn't pay a medical bill -- one the Herrin, Ill., teaching assistant was told she didn't owe. "She got a $280 medical bill
Read More »