Today's New York Times editorial features the ACLU of Michigan and the increasing practice of throwing poor people in jail because they're poor. The Times discusses our case on behalf of Edwina Nowlin, a resident of Escanaba, who was sentenced to 30 days in jail for being poor. Ms. Nowlin couldn't afford to reimburse the state for her son's stay in a juvenile detention facility; the fact that Ms. Nowlin had lost her job and was homeless didn't matter to the judge.
Unfortunately, Edwina Nowlin is just one of many Michigan residents who have found themselves sentenced to jail or kept in the system because they are too poor to get out.
For years, David Sutton's probation was extended because he could not afford his court supervision fees.
In 2003, Mr. Sutton, from Detroit, had fulfilled all the conditions of his one-year probation, including community service. But with a $262 monthly disability check as his only source of income, he was unable to pay the supervision fee. Consequently, a Wayne County Circuit Court judge extended Mr. Sutton's probation year after year. In February 2009, we successfully represented Mr. Sutton at a hearing where the state had once again moved to continue his probation.
You can help us fight the re-emergence of debtor's prisons with two actions:
- Spread the word about these cases by forwarding this e-mail or link to our press release on your Facebook or Twitter account. The ACLU suspects that many more low-income people in Michigan are being kept in jail because of their poverty but may not know they can call on us for help. Making sure your friends, family and colleagues know about these stories and asking them to spread the word is an important first step in protecting the rights of poor people.
- Make a donation of any amount to the ACLU of Michigan to keep us strong and able to respond to these cases wherever they take place across the state. If you're not a member, join us. Visit our website here to make a tax-deductible contribution or become a member.
For the last fifty years, the ACLU of Michigan has worked to protect the fundamental rights of all Michigan residents, rich or poor. Help us continue to fight for freedom today.
Thank you for all you do,
Kary Moss
Executive Director
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