The Arizona legislature has passed legislation that will now allow prisons to charge $25 for people to visit their family and friends in prison. It is a remarkably cruel law since many of these visitors are coming from low income families and have to travel great distances. Yet, legislators are pointing out that they originally wanted to charge babies and children as well but decided to be nice guys.What is it about the legislators in the State of Arizona? Is there something in the water or are they spending too much time out in the hot sun?
The fee is being justified as a one-time “background check fee” for visitors, but staffers admit that it is an effort to increase revenue at the expense of these families. Wendy Baldo, chief of staff for the Arizona Senate, confirmed that they “were trying to cut the budget and think of ways that could help get some services for the Department of Corrections.”
~ from Arizona To Charge People To See Incarcerated Family or Friends by Jonathan Turley ~
This is yet another example of a class-based initiative. It's another example of trying to suck every last dollar from the poor to pay for the sins of the wealthy!
I shudder at what they may think up next!!
Next thing you know, they'll decide to charge an additional tax on top of the $25.00, based off the number of months someone is sentenced to be incarcerated.
ReplyDeleteThen the state can use the money to build more jails and bust more people to be in them -- to build more jails and bust more people to be in them -- to build more jails and bust more people to be in them -- to build more jails and bust more people to be in them -- to build more jails and bust more people to be in them.
Only problem with this cycle for giant corporations that run this county is, it does not build 'robust consumers' -- and we could end up like a North Korea, totally militarized, the whole country a prison, starving, and broke.
Now CM, don't give them any ideas!! :-D
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