Legal financial obligations

Failure to pay restitution and other court debts is considered a parole violation in several states throughout the nation. In Washington, authorities issue warrants for the person’s arrest and frequently put those people in jail. “It’s a modern day debtor’s prison,” said Spokane County Public Defender John Rogers. On any given day – out of an average of 1,177 inmates at Spokane County Jail and Geiger Corrections Center – 60 to 200 people are behind bars for failing to pay court fees and fines. Meanwhile, Spokane County officials are planning to ask voters later this year or next to approve a property tax increase to build a new jail.

Section:Gallery

Sun., May 24, 2009

Gary Berg, the chief deputy of the Spokane County Clerk’s Office, stands in the hallway where collection clerks meet with people who have financial commitments to be paid from criminal court judgments, such as restitution or court costs. When defendants do not pay their legal financial obligations, the clerk's staff of collectors summon them to answer for their lack of payment. Sometimes the result is jail time.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Spokane County public defender Scott Mason talks with a client who had been summoned to the Spokane County Clerk’s Office on April 10, 2009, to explain why she hadn’t paid a court-ordered judgment. Sometimes the result is jail time. Some consider this debtor’s prison, a concept that is illegal, while others call it accountability.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Lawrence Grant sits in the Spokane County Jail on April 21 for not paying fines stemming from a theft charge. He was one of more than 60 in jail that day for not paying fines and restitution stemming from a criminal conviction or guilty plea. Grant has since been released from jail.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Michael Lafferty sits in the Spokane County Jail on April 21 for not paying fines stemming from an assault charge. He was one of more than 60 in jail that day for not paying fines and restitution stemming from a criminal conviction or guilty plea. He has since been released.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Robert Stanley sits in the Spokane County Jail on April 21 for not paying fines stemming from a 1997 burglary charge. He was one of more than 60 in jail that day for not paying fines and restitution stemming from a criminal conviction or guilty plea. He has since been released.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Jason Wagner picks up trash along Mission Avenue in Spokane Valley in April while working on the Spokane County Sheriff's work crew. Wagner was in jail for failing to pay court fines from several years ago. He kicked drugs back in 2004 and thought he was done with the court system until he was arrested. He has since been released from jail. Washington’s criminal justice system, including Spokane County courts, takes a hard line against those who don't pay fines and restitution resulting from criminal prosecution.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review