The small town of Clanton, Ala., is running an extortion scheme meant to take money from people who cannot pay their traffic fines, according to a new lawsuit filed at a federal Alabama court Thursday.
When individuals cannot afford their tickets, the municipal court puts them on a payment plan with the private probation company, Judicial Correction Services (JCS), which threatens them with jail time if they do not keep up with the payments—in addition to charging them extra fees that directly profit the company.
JCS contracts with over 100 municipalities in Alabama, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a legal organization that is filing the lawsuit on behalf of three clients who entered into payment plans with the company. The center hopes the lawsuit will bring light to JCS’s exploitative practices and deter the other cities from doing any more business with the company.
In August last year, the center had filed a similar lawsuit against JCS and the city of Montgomery, which ultimately resulted in the city signing a settlement agreement promising not to renew its contract with JCS. The Montgomery court will also assess a defendant’s ability to pay when determining court fines, and offer the option of performing community service if they cannot pay.
