The 98% - Life After Prison · Judy Van Wyk & April Barber Scales

It's Expensive to Break the Law

·32 min·2 clips

A justice-involved person reveals how the IRS emptied their bank account due to a drug tax, leaving them panicked.

This episode examines the financial burdens placed on individuals within the criminal justice system, from court fees to incarceration costs. Hosts April Barber Scales and Judy Van Wyk, who focus on reentry in North Carolina, guide the discussion. They feature firsthand accounts from justice-involved people struggling with these debts. One speaker describes being denied a waiver for fines, which prevented them from getting a driver's license. Another recounts having all their money, including scholarship and Pell Grant funds, taken from their bank account due to a drug tax. A probation officer returned one person to court six times for non-payment, adding new charges each time. Since 1999, court system fees in North Carolina have increased tenfold. The basic cost of appearing in district court has nearly tripled from $61 to $176. Failure to pay can result in driver's license suspension, accruing interest, and even jail time. In early June, a convening of officials and advocates was held to address these issues. The episode reveals that everything within the criminal justice system carries a monetary cost for the individual. The seizure of educational grant money from a bank account presents a particularly stark financial hurdle. Repeated court appearances for non-payment paradoxically create additional charges and deeper legal entanglement. The tenfold fee increase over two decades illustrates a significant policy shift. Sending people to jail for unpaid debts effectively criminalizes poverty. The system's structure ensures that debts can grow continuously through interest. The tone is educational and advocacy-oriented, blending personal narratives with policy analysis. The style is conversational but grounded in specific data and testimony. Listeners interested in criminal justice reform, economic inequality, and reentry challenges would find this episode compelling. Those seeking light entertainment or unrelated political commentary might choose to skip it.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The 98% - Life After Prison