Stories

“I went in and out of incarceration multiple times, starting in 2005. By 2006, I was back in, and the cycle continued until 2017, when I turned my life around after a stint in Maryland. I returned to California and started a business, but then encountered more trouble when I got involved with the wrong person, leading to ongoing legal battles. I’m currently facing trial for a crime I didn’t commit. It’s been a downward spiral. I lost my business, my credit, everything I built. My company was my pride, but now I’m struggling just to stay afloat and make it to court appearances.

When I was inside, my family sent money orders, and a significant chunk, 55%, was taken away for fees. Every time my people would send me money orders, they would take out 55% of whatever I was sent in; if my cousins sent me $100, they would give me $45 cash to eat in the canteen and keep $55.

Even now, I owe $4,000 in restitution, but I can’t afford to pay it. It’s like economic slavery, even outside of prison. The impact of these fees is immense. They don’t consider your financial situation; they just take and take. Medical visits incurred additional charges, making it even harder to manage. There were no assessments of my ability to pay. They just threatened to garnish my wages, leaving me with few options to survive. It’s a vicious cycle. The system almost forces you to turn back to crime to make ends meet.

If there’s one thing I’d change, it’s the imposition of restitution fees, especially after release. Penalize me while I’m inside if you must, but let me have a chance to rebuild my life when I’m out.”

(Interview with participant B, December 16, 2022, Zoom)