Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

Criminal Law

: The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

MA: Activist led drive to scrutinize inmate fees

By Real Cost of Prisons Project (The Sentencing Project)

Activist led drive to scrutinize inmate fees By Daily Hampshire Gazette Created 08/11/2010 - 09:00 NORTHAMPTON - A Northampton woman played a role in convincing the Legislature to take a second look at a move to charge inmates fees in Massachusetts. Because of her efforts, the proposal was put on hold and a commission is being formed next month to study the feasibility of the idea. "This is an example of a simply punitive idea that passes overnight with no debate and no one even knowing about it, and then it takes 30 years to undo the damage," said Lois Ahrens, founder of the nonprofit Real Cost of Prisons Project, based in Northampton. Ahrens started a grassroots campaign as soon as she learned of the fee proposal, which in her view is an idea "bad in every way...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog on August 11, 2010 (boomark / email).