Biloxi settles suit over jailing people who can’t pay fines
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – The city of Biloxi, the American Civil Liberties Union and a private probation service are settling a lawsuit over how the city court system treats poor people who can’t pay fines.
A federal judge approved the final settlement, announced Tuesday, in a suit where the ACLU was representing three people last week. U.S. District Judge Halil S. Ozerden will maintain the ability to enforce the settlements.
The suit was one of many nationwide alleging authorities were ignoring constitutional protections against imprisoning poor people for unpaid fines. It also targeted the practices of for-profit probation companies.
Biloxi has agreed to stop using private probation companies, has hired a full-time public defender for municipal court, and will stop imposing extra fees on people who pay fines in installments or perform community service.
