Florida inmates charged for prison cells long after incarceration

It's a common saying: You do the crime, you do the time. But when people are released from prison, freedom is fragmented. It marks the start of new hardships, impacting families and communities. Part of that is due to a Florida law many people are unaware of, further punishing second-chance citizens, preventing them from truly moving on. It's called "pay-to-stay", charging inmates for their prison stay, like a hotel they were forced to book. Florida law says that cost, $50 a day, is based on the person's sentence. Even if they are released early, paying for a cell they no longer occupy, and regardless of their ability to pay.

[@wendyford2252]

I thought tax dollars paid for the jails. Are they double dipping ?

[@youreabigguy]

Triple, quadruple dipping

[@ReginaRedding]

Double dipping everything and everyone. Land of the FEES

[@lissakaye610]

They sure are….public funds to build private jails and prisons, then they outsource their labor, charge for housing to the taxpayers, then charged the inmates as well, then don’t forget post prison supervision fees, the up charge on commissary… etc.

[@PossessiveK]

Prisons are "for-profit" and make money off of slave labor, as I understand it. It's disgusting

[@edward8972]

Absolutely

[@kyosanim9581]

This is not rehabilitation, this is a method to keep folks poor, homeless, jobless indebted to the state or private prison.

[@woodchuck40]

And hoping they'll return.

[@JJ-fq4nl]

Also to keep them away from the ballot box permanently. All fees & fines must be paid before voting rights are restored in Florida.

[@Here4TheHeckOfIt]

This woman rebuilt her life and is being kept down. Isn't it interesting that pay-to-stay is a thing when prisons became for-profit?

[@dontbanmebrodontbanme5403]

@@JJ-fq4nlAnd I’ll stick my neck out and assume these laws are disproportionately enforced on people of color.

[@macbrazzle754]

Exactly

[@retrorapture4079]

The folks who pass these sorts of laws belong in prison, themselves.

[@LonceyMills]

This!

[@steelionx9255]

Dumbfuck: here's a bill to arrest children for eating glue! Boss: hold him while I call the feds!

[@kpopfan674]

Exactly. This wouldn't be ok even if everyone was guilty, but there are plenty of miscarriages of justice

[@snapperl]

This practically ensures people who go to jail for any serious time, stay in a life of crime.

[@carladavis1473]

Yep

[@HANKHILLFORTXGOVERNOR]

Maybe joe can do a prison stay debt forgiveness program.

[@poppachoppa8956]

@@HANKHILLFORTXGOVERNOR Who is Joe

[@adventureoflinkmk2]

​@@poppachoppa8956bye den

[@christophertaylor8761]

Joe mama!!!!!!! lol!!!

[@indicasativa8542]

I spent 16 months in the Seminole County Jail for a crime I did not commit. They charged me $50/week in the jail. They automatically took the money out of my account anytime someone would send me money. Eventually I told people to not send me money. After I was acquitted and set free the sentence me a bill for over $3k. I sued the county and not only they squash the debt but they gave me back all the money they took.

[@cirella1064]

WOW your story is wild!!! Glad you made it through. Wow! Just wow!

[@patrickday4206]

Why aren't we charging the same rates to politicians for occupying offices ?

[@pamparker4047]

That not right 😢

[@pamparker4047]

I’m glad you sued them

[@Cogic]

You sued them for your security deposit back🤦‍♂️.. They slimy in the system

[@user-rf1mh2po8h]

how tf does she owe 127k when she only did 10 months in prison???make it make sense.

[@alaska-bornfloridaman]

If you watch the video, you would understand.

[@dar7230]

she has to pay for the cell assigned to her for duration of sentence, not for actual time she was incarcerated

[@thomasmccollum4124]

This makes absolutely no sense. Do you have to pay for a hotel that you’re not staying in?

[@Rudywtf]

@@thomasmccollum4124 ya can lose your hand for stealing. the idea is to keep your hand, because you know you'll lose it, therefore you dont do the crime. its punishment. i do believe its excessive though, but it should of been made aware at the time of conviction and release.

[@shakur1124]

Soo what about all the other inmates assigned to that same cell for the 6 n a half years she weren't there? So there making a awful lota money off released prisoners n empty cells. That is Criminal itself!

[@garxgar]

How can they forcibly lock you in a room at gunpoint and then have the audacity to charge you for it after?

[@Markham12thcentury]

You live in a Communist country. Haven't you been paying attention?

[@AndreaMartinez-qu1be]

Smh. I thought the same thing.

[@aaronscarpa7469]

Here’s a life tip, if you don’t commit crimes, you don’t get “forcibly locked in a room at gunpoint”.

[@Markham12thcentury]

@@aaronscarpa7469 If you cannot keep up with the adult conversation, can you quiet down?

[@tinkthestrange]

@@aaronscarpa7469because no1 has ever been wrongly convicted…

[@bradimcbride3992]

That law don't even sound legal

[@matthewdawsey9892]

its not. welcome to america

[@MyFriendlyPup]

Communism USA

[@moroteseoinage]

It’s a law. It’s legal. That’s how laws work. Don’t like consequences? Don’t do crimes.

[@josephdawson8073]

@@moroteseoinagehey buddy, blow in from stupid town?

[@matthewdawsey9892]

@@moroteseoinage 🥾👅

[@traybern]

Florida, “renting” out the SAME cell at the SAME TIME….to MULTIPLE “tenants.” COOL!!!

[@ShineAsOne]

Brillent.

[@tonywilliams1771]

Until your bad built gullible ass gets a DUI or storm some other building. Then you'll be whining about your treatment and diet.😂😂😂 You're So soft.

[@carlmorgan8452]

Shameful thanks for posting this injustice

[@jenniferduncan4490]

It’s clear as day, that is what it is,got to pay someone else’s rent,really

[@Scorch1028]

This is Florida’s way of forcing broke people to leave the state.

[@celestialnubian]

Florida never misses an opportunity to Florida.

[@SonyaHudson]

That part! 💯

[@Sense71]

It's called restitution and a lot of states do this including California! Go learn some law

[@Sense71]

​@@SonyaHudson It's called restitution and a lot of states do this including California! Go learn some law, That Part!🙄

[@FauxAcct]

​@@Sense71you have poor comprehension skills. Restitution does not justly involve being charged for a dwelling you DID NOT DWELL IN. Go learn some common sense, That Part 🖕

[@carlmorgan8452]

Florida the police state never disappoints

[@Christobanistan]

How the hell can people ever get out of the criminal system if they can't escape these ridiculous fines?

[@sistacoin]

Sounds like an average working person who has debt and tryingto get out of it. There is no issue with making the prisoners pay, they have choices like everyone else. They should not overcharge her for the time not stayed though.

[@Christobanistan]

@@sistacoin$125K???

[@sistacoin]

@hieverybody4246 Can you even read what I said about overcharging her? You're choosing to skip past that. Also, yes, there are people who may have that much debt as well.

[@LivingforHimJesus]

How do people keep asking these stupid questions?? The system is designed to KEEP YOU DOWN!! GET IT?! WHAT ARE YOU NOT UNDERSTANDING???

[@Christobanistan]

@@LivingforHimJesus Well, at least it's not *_intentionally_* designed that way. Remember Hanlon's Razor: never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence or stupidity!

[@312desolation]

This is beyond illegal, and a class action lawsuit needs to be filed ASAP.

[@JackieOwl94]

Florida also makes the prisoners work out in the community in shackles and does not pay them. Considering that the 13th Amendment didn’t actually abolish slavery, it only made it legal for prisoners to be enslaved.

[@crazysquirrel9425]

@@JackieOwl94 Sounds like the old Georgia Chain Gang scenario.

[@alecpitts6843]

@@JackieOwl94 yes you work to pay your debt to society.

[@lopilkderlll]

@@alecpitts6843Forcing someone to work without compensation is called slavery. This is completely unconstitutional and should be abolished and condemned.

[@alecpitts6843]

@@lopilkderlll except its outlined in the constitution that prisoners can be forced to work with no compensation.

[@searchanddiscover]

how is this not cruel and unusual punishment? just another example of the pipeline. prisons should not be businesses.

[@Liberalcali]

She should sue the boyfriend oh wait she was a willing participant

[@user-hf3bp2gy6d]

We let them get away with this its our fault

[@Winstonrodney6989]

@@LiberalcaliShe admits that and has paid her due in time served. Why did the state not contact her earlier if they felt she owed them money? Instead they sprung it on her when she went to advance herself.

[@mandelstamm]

I agree, cruel and unusual punishment!!

[@Fat12219]

Stay out of prison as easily as staying out !

[@gcoats2]

And this is one of many reasons why this country is failing! This type of greed will break society into complete chaos.

[@bigearl791]

Already is broken

[@mylesmorfitt9837]

It broke long long long ago where TF have you been for 40 years 🤣 Delusional Clown !

[@pamgraves]

Do the crime do the time and they should haft to pay less people in jail that way

[@richcampbell6808]

Tax payers should not have to pay for criminals time behind bars. The law is great 👍

[@mylesmorfitt9837]

@@richcampbell6808 not to mention the other million things we pay for that keep increasing every 3 months !

[@user-pk2ou4cm9p]

How do they expect people to be productive prosperous citizens when they cripple people that have grown and done right.

[@mergenocide]

Recidivism pays

[@mikusoxlongius]

Doing wrong was the whole problem in the first place.

[@martinfilion794]

They do not, in their ideal world this young woman cannot make a decent living, goes back into the world of crime and becomes a low risk low cost "tenant" for a few more years. If she somehow makes it out and makes payments then they have a steady income from her and if she goes back in well, same. I am not against fair punishment and holding people accountable but turning inmates into commodities is not how you rehabilitate. Mind you the purpose of the legal system is the US was never rehabilitation I think, it is just an occasional side effect.

[@BEATSofDevil]

​@@mikusoxlongiusfalse you weren't paying attention either to this video or to history of this country. The problem started with a problematic society that traumatizes people when they're vulnerable

[@mattschehr163]

@@mikusoxlongiusyou sound like bullshit

[@user-xu9fm8fu5j]

I’m not paying nothing. Throw it on my credit report.

[@alexrekzu4079]

lol then they send you back to prison for owing credit companies and you get out again put it on credit

[@dejamesola]

​@@alexrekzu4079that is not how it works. Lol

[@alexrekzu4079]

@@dejamesola 😎

[@mattheww797]

Go back to prison righ now! 😡

[@SJ-oxy]

Exactly. It's not like it's a student loan. :)

[@uniphied3]

Literally the definition of a debtor's prison.

[@My-Name-Isnt-Important]

It's not. A debtors Prison, was a prison solely for those that owed a debt and were jailed due to that debt. This woman is a felon that committed crimes against citizens, and went to prison. She owes the prison for her time behind bars. Food, housing, utilities, and everything else she received while in prison. She very likely went to school while in Prison, which those services are offered to all Florida prisoners, something that isn't mentioned in this propaganda piece. She was let out of prison early, so the victims don't get justice. She should go back to prison and serve out her remaining time.

[@scratchpenny]

@@My-Name-Isnt-Important The real issue is that she is being charged for services beyond what she used. It wasn't just her decision to be released early-it was the state's. That's fraud and corruption. It's illegal in almost all circumstances in the US outside of this one. Even renters don't have to pay the entirety of their broken leases once they pay a much lower penalty. This kind of policy ensures continued bad outcomes.

[@WarmongerYT]

​@@My-Name-Isnt-ImportantWith the amount we all pay in taxes should be enough. I'm very pro Florida & conservative values (& although California also has this same law/program) This is absurd. 🚩The whole point & goal is to make sure once you're in the system u never get out of it. It's hard enough for anyone to make any real changes in their life with 1 mistake, especially if that's a felony for something like unknowingly writing a hot check (i know it's rare for someone to be innocent but it does happen & even if it's not a genuine mistake, if its the 1st time, they still deserve a chance at paying the consequences &changing their lives) NOT ENDING UP IN DEBT THAT'S EQUIVALENT TO GOING TO COLLEGE TO GET A MASTERS & going to prevent them from ever owning anything. Disgusting.

[@drk.i.a.2969]

​@@My-Name-Isnt-Importantshe was a child basically back then...her crimes were not of a drastic nature...she proved she has grown up..she did everything they asked...& there was no reason to hold her it was a huge success story. Tell me any situation where you can charge somone for something they never used & they just put someone else in the same cell...its corruption at it worst she should protest & get others also & get an attorney. Also they hid this from her b/c she didn't know abt it which is deception..or she wud hv done the 7yrs. There is no commonsense to any of this. It shld be a success story that Florida cud use to promote there reentry system.

[@drk.i.a.2969]

​@@My-Name-Isnt-Importantwhat victums?

[@mikeythompson7777]

A recipe for recidivism...one wonders how many ex-inmates fell right back into crime, just because of this law.

[@AyatoIlah]

Exactly. It stopped her from getting her dream job. The state is ridiculous.

[@woodsrdr]

That's the plan. It's customer retention at it's finest.

[@Here4TheHeckOfIt]

The culture in America is really more punitive than just. Someone like this woman has to "pay the price" for decades, while people with connections that ruins thousands of lives get a slap on the wrist

[@matthewmclean7471]

i am all for people having to be penalized when they do wrong, but what the state is doing to this women is also wrong, remember when you used to get in a fight with your siblings growing up and mom would say 'two wrongs dont make a right.' I guess Florida law makers forgot that lesson.

[@Marynicole830]

@@Here4TheHeckOfItthe real crime is not being one of the elite. Gotta keep the poors down or else they may have the energy to fight back.

[@johnsonrj74]

That's outrageous- she paid in time, she's now contributing to society but they want to keep punishing her and keep her in poverty. That's the crime here

[@Nothingisavailible]

Idk maybe this will keep them from reoffending A little tax return to us would be nice too we paid for her food roof and clothing

[@mondogecko01]

She must have stolen from or fucked over the wrong person.. My guess

[@cndnclassics5874]

@@Nothingisavailible and thats the exact problem, the first thing you say is how it will stop em from reoffending. Some one like this women has changed her life but you're the type of ppl that still see em as a criminal

[@robc.54]

She didn't pay in time. she did less than a year of a 7 year sentence. She still owes.

[@simdae1]

@@Nothingisavailible It's been over TEN YEARS.

[@MonkeyMind69]

*_For everyone "raging" against Florida on this.... It's not just Florida._* There might be different policies/ Funding structures, but many prisons throughout the country are being switched to private "for-profit" prisons. This creates a conflict of interest, as such systems will always gravitate towards insuring profitability at the expense of justice. Just as there is a separation of church and state, so too must there be a separation of state and corporations. For those who don't see a problem with charging inmates, please pay more attention to how little "justice" there is in our legal system currently.

[@littleitaly4700]

If anyone is wondering they charged her charged her for the 7 year sentence rather than just the 10 months she did do. They kept charging her for the cell even after she was released. Thats insane and I really don't even understand how thats constitutional.

[@mireillepioger92]

many people paid for that cell at the time.That's steeling.I saw a t-shirt written:don't steel it's the governments job!So true.

[@pkizzy8325]

we know....we got it....we understood the story

[@littleitaly4700]

@pkizzy8325 Some people have a hard time understanding, so I try and help. Instead of trolling on someone's comment, maybe you can be useful and mind your business if you don't have anything nice to say.

[@MixedChick1]

@@littleitaly4700 I had to rewatch it because I didnt understand. Nice that you explained it for others 👍

[@Hear-MeoutTwo2]

@@littleitaly4700 ::: She should sue them for the money they collected from others that occupied her cell. In the end she should owe nothing.

[@W44F]

The state is triple dipping I'm sure they make the inmates work for .25 an hour for some corporation and using taxpayer money to run prisons and using taxpayer money for private prisons and it doesn't cost $50 a day the 3 meals a day probably cost less than $10 a day and they are making profits off of the commissary and inmate phone calls

[@bourbontrail565]

Like the NFL , it’s a business.

[@michaelragusa5138]

This story is a warning to stay out of Florida. Charging people for being in jail or prison is extortion!

[@Novusod]

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. Florida is a great place for the law abiding.

[@Blacks-Destroy-Society]

*Agree, criminal's should stay out of Florida...*

[@ericreddy2]

Crime is still so rampant I’m not sure it’s great for non criminals. It seems to be a very comfortable place for wealthy white criminals.

[@nickythekidd5517]

@@Novusodnah it’s a swamp

[@smokeythebear1633]

Please feel free to stay away!

[@adim00lah]

So essentially, this young lady's life is ruined, even after trying to get her life together, that's not possible now. My heart goes out to her, this is a damn shape.

[@Blacks-Destroy-Society]

*If she didn't commit a crime this never would have happened.. Her fault.*

[@user-wr6sv9pj1l]

These kind of laws essentially make staying an addicted on the streets a better outcome, they're backwards. Restitution is one thing but it needs to be reasonable and realistic. $50 a day is not reasonable nor realistic, especially in her circumstance where she wasn't even in the cell for a majority of that time. The fact that they're using this debt to prohibit people from being licensed with the state to then go into jobs where making those payments is more realistic is completely absurd

[@adim00lah]

@@user-wr6sv9pj1l Exactly, like how is she suppose to pay the money back if she can't get a higher paying job? As you said, it's to keep people down.

[@jacquesjoseph2022]

One of my high school buddies went to jail for burglary. So when he got out, I asked him what was it like to be there. He told me the only thing about prison is it teaches you how to be a better criminal.

[@MimiJoys]

😲😳😖

[@LP-hs6yz]

That is what someone with criminal thinking would say.

[@leonardodalongisland]

You must be young and obviously naïve about many things: that saying is been around for about 100 years.

[@jacquesjoseph2022]

@@leonardodalongisland what does this saying has to do with the actual facts? And for your information about age, I’m old enough to be your grandfather.

[@jacquesjoseph2022]

@@LP-hs6yz So this is your definition of a criminal mind? Have you ever been incarcerated? I take it you haven’t. They have been people of all races that have been in prison. And came out being so called rehabilitated. Only for society to turn around and not give them a chance or a job! And some have been accused of a crime they didn’t commit! Now look at the video before you!?

[@thegreyhoundgirls536]

This is absolutely ridiculous! No one who was in prison in Florida will ever get back on their feet or ahead. So sad

[@My-Name-Isnt-Important]

Sounds like a deterrent for crime. Don't want to owe money for your prison stay, don't commit crimes against fellow citizens.

[@everythingisfine9988]

​@@My-Name-Isnt-Important if only the rules apply to those at the top 🎩

[@larrys4618]

​@@everythingisfine9988no this is only for the pawns. I bet you that the the person who posted that comment supports the mafia Don to be dictator over our country.

[@scratchpenny]

@@My-Name-Isnt-Important It doesn't to me. It sounds like it will create more serious criminals. What's the point of trying to reform if it is not possible? And it won't deter the worst criminals because they never care to reform. It seems like a trap for anyone who is trying to reform their life and a scam by the prison industrial complex to get rich through exploitation.

[@WarmongerYT]

​@@My-Name-Isnt-Important except I highly doubt anyone committing crimes knows this until after being incarcerated

[@iviaverick52]

Forcing someone to stay in a room and then making them pay for that room after they leave seems illegal.

[@coffeegator6033]

When you get out of jail your debt to society should be considered fulfilled

[@adim00lah]

Right?! I had no idea they want the money back for your prison sentence, so what was the time in jail for since it's not to pay back debt to society?

[@alexrekzu4079]

i believe in restitution but not this BS

[@RoadrunnerCoyote]

Nope you have to pick the bill.Its not taxpayers problem that you took the life of crime.

[@thesink5723]

What would be a reasonable sentence for a teenager (16) that raped his younger sister multiple times over 2 years ??

[@coffeegator6033]

@@RoadrunnerCoyote When you point your finger at someone, you are also pointing 3 back at yourself. I've never been to jail or even arrested. Your assumption that every person in jail has had a "life of crime" is laughable if you're over 16 years old. Charge them fines if you want, but this after the fact springing 6 figure bills method is not becoming of a respectable justice system.

[@AT.inbetween]

The state is getting paid double for one jail cell. She wasn't using the cell. The state was probably using the cell, but she's got to pay and probably the inmate who actually occupied the jail cell has to pay. There's gotta be some kind of law against that..

[@ebayerr]

And what about all the other people that may have had their sentences cut short, but were also sentenced to many years as well. You could have hundreds of people that could be paying for that same cell.

[@truebluepatriot2739]

💙🇺🇲 Florida is getting more than double, this is hwy robbery. 🤬

[@nottodaycolonizer3257]

we would be surprised... theres a warden that feeds inmates nutraloaf, to save money, so he could use the funds to buy a vacation home. you cant make this $hit up

[@vulcan2882]

it's getting paid tripple

[@Milesco]

​@@vulcan2882 More than that, even. See ebayerr's comment above.

[@utilid4lifefigureitout602]

Give the rich 100s of millions of dollars in tax breaks... while charging people trying to get their lives back together fantastical fees that have nothing to do with making victims of crimes whole. An unfortunately unsurprising Florida story.

[@user-nc3dl6zo7e]

It does make the victims of crime whole if you can picture that the victim is a tax payer paying for their attackers housing. But points to my comment about there needs to be a program which discounts or removes the fees if able to reform.

[@utilid4lifefigureitout602]

@user-nc3dl6zo7e the opoid epidemic for all intents and purposes, was started in Florida because the state government wouldn't step in... they let doctor's set up pillmills on every corner. People were coming from all across the country to Florida to get prescriptions they didn't need, but Dr's in Florida were all to willing to hand out... the Florida government didn't step in to stop it untill it was beyond out of control and the federal government was giving them no choice but to step in.

[@wardprocter2371]

The Rich own the incarceration system. If she had done her full time would she still owe?

[@beatricesomeone3300]

Ya this is disgusting, they want her to be a productive member of society again after jail and then they brake her, that makes no sense and ya it's not surprising that this comes out of Florida, i absolutely agree.

[@KimberlyLetsGo]

Apples and oranges.

[@michaelwalker9734]

That’s wild. Here in Virginia, many jurisdictions charge inmates in local jails five dollars a day, but once they are sent to state prison they are no longer charged for the time they spend in incarcerated. Most inmates leave prison broke as it is, can you imagine leaving prison owing the state $150,000.000 ?

[@yassine073t]

This is financial terrorism

[@derrickscott9469]

What bullshittery is this? Charging inmates for what amounts to prison rent while also depriving them from access to the free world where they can earn a living is just cruel and illogical.

[@angelahansen3398]

Plus giving them no services to help rehabilitate themselves

[@derrickscott9469]

@@angelahansen3398 the system gave up on rehabilitation a long time ago. It's about punishment and profit. But getting charged for being locked up is news to me.

[@johnny2thumbs247]

There is an alternative...don't commit a crime.

[@derrickscott9469]

@@johnny2thumbs247 unfortunately, crime-free utopian societies don't exist. So how to treat prisoners is still an issue we have to deal with.

[@robynliteracy7057]

"Cruel and illogical" should be the FL state motto.

[@nativestacker4185]

I was in jail once and on the day of my release they tried to get me to agree to pay for my incarceration and I told them no , I told them to bring me back to my cell and keep me as long as they wanted but I will not give them a penny . About 3 hours later they released me and I never heard anything about it again .

[@yvettewilson7008]

This shouldnt even be a thing. Our lawmaker my goodness are out of their minds. Much to punitive.

[@mariusfacktor3597]

7 years in prison for a drug addiction. Then putting her in 6 figures of debt. This is the opposite of justice. She's a victim of the state.

[@007Smith]

This is by design to keep people from ever getting on the right track.

[@arkhanhind2613]

Hopefully it will also keep people from doing dumb things that lands them in jail.

[@louis1443]

@@arkhanhind2613 what? That’s stupid you can go to jail for anything even for something you didn’t do

[@007Smith]

@@arkhanhind2613 Irrelevant.

[@yvettekinchking8838]

😮oh I understand she has a criminal record.. years later is is now starting to pay. I am amazed and gobsmacked. 😢

[@scratchpenny]

@@arkhanhind2613 You would think so. But it's not going to prevent the worst criminals who don't care about such things. It only serves to punish the most likely to be reformed. On top of that, what they are doing sounds an awful lot like fraud.

[@ericglover37]

That is unconstitutional.

[@thepolishredneck3941]

Since when did criminals keep their rights???

[@betterwithwinebetterwithwi2359]

Your whole governments criminal🙄

[@jamieg9607]

@@thepolishredneck3941easy. When they finish their sentence.

[@michaelmendoza4066]

They are HUMAN !

[@stevenpike7857]

@@thepolishredneck3941 Criminals are protected by the US Constitution. This may fall under cruel and unusual punishment.

[@IMTHATN1NJA]

Bro florida is a bad place to live as a felon and now its even worse

[@shaedee7427]

And this is what blk ppl have been trying to explain when we say. Privatized prisons are a problem. Its unconstitutional.

[@mumblesbadly7708]

This must be challenged as unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment.

[@AndreaMartinez-qu1be]

I totally agree.

[@UrbanTardOutdoors]

Cruel AND unusual not cruel or unusual its cruel but not usual :/

[@dustinhardy2952]

For profit incarceration is an incentive for corruption. When officials and police own stock in the prisons, gotta keep em full so you can keep the money rolling.

[@ocsrc]

The government taxes citizens to pay for the prisons The state taxes citizens to pay for prisons The government pays private companies to run the prisons The private companies are charging the prisoners for the time in prison. These companies are making so much money. This should not be allowed in the best country in the world

[@TreDogOfficial]

Fascinating yet tragic. Great reporting!

[@ij2750]

Florida is wrong and needs to change but then again, these days everything is about money instead of what's best for their citizens.

[@soufwesthoustontx]

That's definitely a scam to base the fees on the sentence and not the actual time spent.

[@USMCBeirutVet]

I retired a sergeant from the state of Cal. department of corrections so trust me im no inmate sympathizer but this is wrong on so many levels. Inmates in Cal. only pay restitution ordered by the courts.

[@Americanpatriot-zo2tk]

Once you’re out of prison you shouldn’t be paying one cent. You paid your dues.

[@timtrottproductions]

welcome to corporate prisons.

[@nicknevco215]

This looks like why

[@The2ndFirst]

It was a state prison, not private.

[@zealousprogrammer4539]

@@The2ndFirst Cat and Tiger are feline the same species!

[@The2ndFirst]

Yeah but way diiferent.

[@dericksmith2137]

It’s Double Sentencing! So yes it is unconstitutional and illegal. Either sentence me to payments of $50/day for 7yrs OR Sentence me to be incarcerated for 7yrs! They cannot sentence you to both. But really look at that, $50 per day is for every day of a week, so $350/week. A $12/hr employee makes $480 a week (on 40 hrs). So how could a person with a record obtain a job that pays enough to pay that outrageous $50/day?

[@patrickday4206]

Also It's a problem because guards and prisons can be encouraged to make claims to increase prison time

[@My-Name-Isnt-Important]

She was let out early, her original sentencing is what she owes. Doesn't matter she didn't do the whole time, justice is being served. You commit crimes against fellow citizens, you will pay for your time in prison.

[@dindjarin559]

The actual professional lawyers, paralegals, etc, would have been winning lawsuits left and right, and be advertising publicly everywhere IF you knew what you were talking about. I mean seriously, lawyers have been lawyering for centuries, and their one job is to find the illegal or unconstitution thing in their client's case that wins the case and gets them paid as well as makes GREAT publicity and advertising for ther law firm. Not to mention there already would have been HUNDREDS of court precedents that would have prevented Florida from even suggesting it initially. But there isn't any of that, is there?. For what this news article is talking about, which isn't even the definition or action of double sentencing, might be unheard of in Florida.... but iirc Florida also has a chomo neighborhood, trailer park, and mini-town just for the monsters to have a safe place to live, surrounded by and living next to like minded genetic misfires... Um, if the jail is privtely owned especially, it is not double sentencing. Even if it is also susbsidized, the private jail is allowed to charge their own operating fees seperate from what is subsidized. Besides..... If what all you said is true, then why hasnt every jail inmate for decades been able to sue, or been able to have an attorney successfully sue jails for millions of dollars AND WIN THOSE LAWSUITS???? If it is so illegal and unconstitutional, how come every law firm across the country doesn't advertise "Have you been billed for serving time in jail? You may be due compensation. Call our law offices today for a FREE consultation." How come there is not 1 single class action lawsuit filed in history, let alone won in a court room, against jails and prison for charging inmates as double sentencing???

[@MimiJoys]

Who gets the bill for the Prison Cell, when the prisoner is never set free and winds up 6 feet under? Family... Next of Kin? What if there isn't a Next of Kin? Ive never heard of this happening.

[@Tired-bamboo-sunshine]

Thank you for bringing this to light. This is outrageous and sounds very unconstitutional. I hope this mess gets sorted for her and others like her.

[@user-sw9jo7fe3d]

If she didnt use the cell, she shouldn't pay the rent.

[@rebeccarittenhouse2203]

She shouldn’t pay rent on someplace she is forced at gun point to be regardless of using the cell. Thats extortion isn’t it.

[@Aminah6623]

This is dumb and unfair. Considering that most people go to prison for nonviolent crimes, this is ridiculous. She served her time. Be done with it.

[@Fishstick911]

This is absolutely criminal

[@tararansom2750]

Being poor is the worst form of violence.

[@viking956]

The state should not be able to charge for prison residency unless that is a part of the sentence (like court costs). Otherwise, the state budget for prisons should be reduced by the exact amount they collect from inmates.

[@Forgoneconclusion.]

I agree, twice over!

[@gregoryfuzi4745]

They are being compensated twice once by the tax payer while the prisoner is incarcerated and then by the prisoner after release.

[@colleenpeck6347]

Just more Florida government corruption !🙄

[@jackiemills2466]

Isn’t it double dipping? Tax payers pay to house inmates 😢

[@gregoryfuzi4745]

@@jackiemills2466 yes it sure is!

[@anthonymartinez4307]

But they don’t want you to be hired at jobs because your past offenses as if people with no record also don’t brake the rules. The problem with America is they want to punish people forever as if they don’t deserve the chance to earn a living. Seriously start charging these politicians who make 250k a year but end up with millions? Where did they get that money from?

[@patrickday4206]

Why aren't we charging the same rates to politicians for occupying offices ?

[@Asgard-1]

This is totally disgusting. How can this be even remotely legal

[@crystalalvarez7713]

Just when I thought there was corruption in every way already…

[@DJJonPattrsn22]

Absolutely preposterous & despicable!!! And utterly absurd to charge someone for the amount of time sentenced instead of the amount of time they actually served... it contradicts the name of the law itself "pay to stay"! Honestly,, I'm not convinced that even if only charged for time served that this policy actually makes. Unless their goal really is to just ruin these people's lives beyond hope. But that doesn't make sense for anyone! Not for the prior inmate, not for the community, and not even for the state of it prevents an individual from becoming a productive member of society.

[@BETTERWORLDSGT]

It just guarantees someones failure, it's already hard enough to get work after Prison,and still keep a roof over Your head, but to get out crushed with debt is insane.

[@jakec6800]

That’s one of the craziest things I ever heard, why would you pay for somewhere you don’t want to be?

[@DanLee8884]

This is so typical of Florida. These lawmakers don't know how think 2 steps ahead, how this will affect people who will honestly try to change their lives. This about punishment not change.

[@seanedghill5025]

They should pay for housing and food, laundry and all the medical care they receive. There is no need for the taxpayers to pick up the entire tab.

[@nathanheu1616]

So if youre going to prison, make sure you go for life so you wont have to pay back.

[@alexrekzu4079]

watch the debt get passed down to next of kin. some feudal shiz

[@Kirby467-sk2hs]

This law proves the state of Florida doesn't care about rehabilitation, only about money. This woman is a perfect example of someone who made a mistake, but has turned her life around to become a productive member of society. The main obstacle she now faces is the state of Florida standing in her way with these ridiculous and outrageous fees.

[@Ninnjette-]

That's around $1,500 a month, around what I pay in rent a month. Why should the tax payers, pay for her? Should everyone pay for my apartment?

[@Kirby467-sk2hs]

@@Ninnjette- Nobody is asking the taxpayers to pay for her. The state of Florida wants her to pay for a jail cell that she is not occupying. Why should she be charged for something that she is not using?

[@Ninnjette-]

@Kirby467-sk2hs If the inmates don't pay for their cells, who does?.... The taxpayer!!! Duh! She's still paying on when she was there, she's paying back rent. She wasn't making enough money at the time to pay that every month, how is that confusing to you? You've never heard of back rent?

[@Kirby467-sk2hs]

@@Ninnjette- I am not confused about the facts which are the state of Florida wants her to pay not only for the 10 months she was incarcerated, but for the remaining 6+ years of her sentence that she was not incarcerated. That would be like your landlord wanting you to continue to pay rent on an apartment after you had moved out and someone else had moved in. I doubt you would consider that fair.

[@Ninnjette-]

@Kirby467-sk2hs Don't break the law lol Simple as that.

[@Slyfox1775]

This would never happen in California! The tax payers have to for 100k a year to house the inmates here !

[@doug2496]

this is absolutely disgusting....

[@dolorescovington403]

My son is in S. D. .. Mike durfee prison, his first month in, he called me and said " only send me money when I tell you, because between my " job" here, and what you send me, if it comes to over $160.00 a month, they start taking out rent"... I was pissed off and shocked! I immediately thought that was illegal, and my first question was " where are our tax dollars going to if they are taking the money from the inmates that their FAMILIES send them?"!!!! I'm so pissed, but don't want to move on it until he is out, so he isn't going to be given a hard time while he is there

[@user-hf3bp2gy6d]

Our government are worse criminals than the supposed animals locked in a cage

[@AmateurArtisan]

What crime did he commit? That's on him.

[@dolorescovington403]

@@AmateurArtisan I didn't say he should not be there, did I?

[@kathyroberts9037]

FL. Prisons killed 500 inmates in 2014!!! You can look up the most horrifying murder by FL prison guards by typing in the name Darrel Rainey. Boiled to death in 180 degrees fahrenheit shower for 9 hours. The pictures are worse than any gruesome mass killers in history.

[@leevahal900]

Ill bet no one has ever paid off the fine.

[@Winstonrodney6989]

This doesn’t hurt criminals because criminals don’t care. It only hurts people that want to make an honest effort to be part of civil society.

[@tinamckenna7514]

They won't receive income tax returns, any settlement awards, nothing of the kind until that "debt" is paid off. 😢

[@nuclearwaste2062]

You'd be right. The county's that do this only make at most 15% of the debts back. Some barely make 5% back.

[@everythingisfine9988]

​@@Winstonrodney6989 well.. The 13-year-old who stole a candy bar has A permanent financial life sentence attached to it, might as well go to the nice neighborhoods for a home invasion. And leave no witnesses

[@scratchpenny]

It's a scam to ensure you can never get out of the system.

[@SJ-oxy]

So is stealing and fencing her Boyfriend's fault too? Imagine a male criminal saying "Unfortunately, I got involved with a woman who got me addicted to opiates" . Plenty of people with addiction issues manage to avoid felonies.

[@home4life505]

Im an American living in Switzerland. They charge for jail cells.

[@charleslara8495]

Taxation without representation!? She is saddled with her past, a scarlet letter that is a money Symbol.

[@Scorch1028]

How in the hell does a dead-broke person released from prison pay $127,000 for their past prison stay? This is some “feudal system bull-sh*t”. WTF?!!!

[@hothmandon]

So what happens if you can't pay for your cell? Do they kick you out of prison on the street?

[@RealitySlipTV]

it's almost as if it matters what you do and choose in life? Weird.

[@watsonspuzzle]

That's incredibly unfair. She didn't even serve that time.

[@2112jp]

It’s unfair for those she stole from and they probably never got any monetary for those items

[@Moneyfromthecraft]

@@2112jpthe court usually in issues restitution for the items as apart of sentencing so she paid that already plus this?

[@ryanwilliams6602]

@@2112jp The punishment does not fit the crime though. It's very unlikely she stole $127,000 worth if she only served 10 months. It's reasonable that she should not have to owe $127,000.

[@UltimateWaifuXD]

Not just unfair but also illegal and unconstitutional.

[@My-Name-Isnt-Important]

@@UltimateWaifuXD What law does this break, and where in the constitution does it say you can't have prisoners pay for their prison time? She was willing to commit crimes, and should have served her full sentence, but unfortunately was released early.

[@jaimestephens3976]

So instead of these people being prisoners they are in reality slaves or at the very least indentured servants minus the employment skills after their time is served. We'll I can cross Florida off of places to live. 🖋 🇺🇸💔

[@user-hf3bp2gy6d]

Correct modern day slavery we ignore because of complacency and corruption

[@tinamckenna7514]

I suppose in some way it's an incentive to not commit crime, but what about those who are wrongfully accused??

[@jaimestephens3976]

@@tinamckenna7514 That's just one of the reasons this is bs. Prisons are not supposed to be for profit businesses, they're to house maniacs. Most inmates are not maniacs, many are victims of a crummy environment, caused in many way by over taxation. These businesses and not the ones paying off the politicians but regular businesses mom and pop businesses need to be keeping their money to grow their businesses, to help provide a gainful environment with an over abundance of jobs. Instead of the money laundering system that's going on now, that only benefits those at the extreme top of the food chain. These prisons have become a part of that food chain. Prisons should be an expense to the state as an incentive for the politicians to create a positive system instead of trying to go back to the European oligarchy the founders purposely broke from for many of the reasons I just mentioned. 🇺🇸💔

[@tinamckenna7514]

@@jaimestephens3976 It seems most laws established by the founders have fallen by the wayside in favor of capitalism 🙄.

[@My-Name-Isnt-Important]

How do you think she became a phlebotomist? She received education while in Prison, which is a service offered to all inmates. Funny how nobody seems to think about this woman's victims. She is a felon that chose to commit crimes against fellow citizens, she owes the prison for her housing, food, and everything else she received while in prison.

[@misswomble]

Its heartbreaking 💔

[@Himmelgrau68]

Charging rent for being forced to remain in a cage has to be the apex of cruelty. The concept is sick and deranged. When I hear of things like this, it makes me glad that I emigrated from the US to Europe.

[@amandanelson4681]

This is profiteering off people who did their time … its disgusting

[@Darjaboo]

Criminals should pay for the prisons and the guards it takes to keep them there. It shouldn't be free.

[@cirella1064]

@@Darjaboo But there is no incentive to clean up your act because you’ll need to rob a bank to pay this off! 😂 You’re way of thinking prohibits people from rehabilitating and re acclimating into society which is tough enough with a record. $127k? No one can afford that!

[@patrickday4206]

Why aren't we charging the same rates to politicians for occupying offices ?

[@patrickday4206]

​@@Darjabooyou're are a foolish person to not understand how moraly defunct this claim is

[@patrickday4206]

​@@Darjabooyou are foolish to not understand how moraly defunct this argument is

[@lizabetx483]

Making money off of misery.

[@ThatHomelessScrubbalo]

And then creating more misery with debt...

[@alaska-bornfloridaman]

So, don't go to prison.

[@dar7230]

@@alaska-bornfloridaman exactly. Have to love the way she says 'the director' kicked me out of rehab center' no responsibility for her behavior that caused her to be dismissed from the facility. I feel no sympathy because the taxpayers pay for all prison cost in most states, bout time inmates pay m imo

[@lizabetx483]

@@alaska-bornfloridaman Well she was not in the prison for all the months she was charged so it still is an unfair practice.

[@UltimateWaifuXD]

@@alaska-bornfloridaman Innocent people go to prison all the time.

[@smorris281]

I’m all for law and order, but this outrageous.

[@pyrosdestiny]

This absolute outrageous!

[@julianwayte]

Modern day slavery. That sucks.

[@traybern]

DON’T forget the room TAXES too. A $50 “room” must have a bottom line of WELL OVER 75 bucks!!!

[@user-gl2pr4bf7e]

But she wasn't in a room

[@RayfordRaySiegel]

What? You're not making any sense. What is this "bottom line that you're referring to? It's not $75. It's $50, which she shouldn't have to pay, of course.

[@kimjones2056]

She should pay for the time she was in prison. Not the time she was supposed to be there

[@uberwayz]

That's ridiculous. Charging prisoners money for being in prison is a joke.

[@ts109]

When my friends son completed a 5 year sentence for possesion of 5 hits of lsd in florida, they wouldnt release him till he paid 4000.00 dollor room and board bill.

[@TheCastedone]

That's crazy

[@fabulousfabricationsimmacu4962]

wtf they expect you to pay to be in a jail cell,, that’s insanity

[@stevensmith856]

This is why I'll never visit or support Florida.

[@glitchy_gamer091]

Don't do the crime, it has consequences.

[@myfrestuff3453]

Move away. Don't pay it. Don't return, ever. Case closed.

[@KK-tt6ui]

That may be the states goal

[@judeduval5724]

​@@KK-tt6ui Agree.

[@Blacks-Destroy-Society]

*I agree, Criminals should leave Florida! Law abiding citizens don't have to worry about this!*

[@ulrichbehnke9656]

What has someone to pay when he get the death sentence? 50k execution costs + funeral costs etc. ? Paid before execution? And when you can not pay it? 😳

[@jho7781]

Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time

[@BlueMagic334]

The way the world is going is frightening.

[@SwaggerLikeUz]

An incarceration fee? And I thought Florida’s insurance mandate laws were bad enough. Crazy!

[@dianer8004]

Florida high schools need to teach kids what happens once they are 18...becoming a felon ruins so much of their lives and they need to learn about this, too.

[@briansullivan1621]

I think that is a great idea . In my experience public schools taught me a lot of things I didn’t even need to know.

[@riomio7852]

Doesn't a felony prefent you from being drafted, small price to pay just to ignore voting every 4 years for worst or worst'er. Hail Dr.Eric Berne.

[@Theuglytruth1776]

When is enough enough America?🤬

[@DigitalDeath88]

So? They should pay, not the law abiding citizens.

[@RTMonitor]

Imagine if there's a tax to just live, and no, I am not talking about the taxes that you always have to pay the government. If there's a tax to live and you didn't get a chance to pay that type of tax, then you're gonna be thrown in jail because you are unaffordable to pay for just being alive.

[@DigitalDeath88]

@@RTMonitor Not comparable, stop deflecting. This is a a part of the punishment that comes with the consequences of their choice to break the law.