ODOC Fines: The Scars of Our Poverty

• Author: Toby Michael
• Published date: 01 May 2022
• Date: 01 May 2022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/10439862221096736

https://doi.org/10.1177/10439862221096736

Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice

2022, Vol. 38(2) 232 –233

© The Author(s) 2022

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DOI: 10.1177/10439862221096736

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Essay

ODOC Fines: The Scars of

Our Poverty

Toby Michael

Check out the math. A $200 fine & a 120 stay in Segregation is a crippling ordeal. No

property damage, no medical costs from violence, it could just be what they call extor-

tion. Which is just telling someone to get away from you, or racketeering which is

loaning 1 honeybun out for 2 back. 120 days in Seg (DSU) & $200.00 fine. 4 months

of $0.00 per ODOC policy after DSU stay 1 month work w/out pay. Then you can earn

the $32 monthly, which ODOC garnishes 50% upon deposit. So, $16 for you & $16

for them. 12 months will get you even. 17 months before you can keep your entire $32.

But, how many impressionable, impoverished, insecure & impulsive oppressed people

are gonna have a positive work ethic when they’re being robbed? - So, most people

create other forms of income to acquire basic necessities. These are the exact mentali-

ties that brought us here. Feeling irrelevant & unheard, we find ways to get our proper

due. Prisoners are entangled in the cycle of a slip up, getting taxed by the greedy gov-

ernment & feeling worthless. Nobody learns because we are too busy surviving.

People leave to go back to their same behavior which ensures recidivism which guar-

antees job security for the very people responsible for correcting us.

1096736CCJXXX10.1177/10439862221096736Journal of Contemporary Criminal JusticeMichael

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