The Return Of Debtor's Prisons: Thousands Of Americans Jailed
For Not Paying Their BillsQuicklink submitted by Amanda Lang
Permalink Become a Fan |Federal imprisonment for unpaid debt has
been illegal in the U.S. since 1833. It's a practice people
associate more with the age of Dickens than modern-day America.
But as more Americans struggle to pay their bills in the wake of
the recession, collection agencies are using harsher methods to
get their money, ushering in the return of debtor's prisons. NPR
reports that it's becoming increasingly common for people to
serve jail time as a result of their debt. Because of 'sloppy,
incomplete or even false documentation,' many borrowers facing
jail time don't even know they're being sued by creditors...|
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