Wow, that is an incredible story, and I’m going to remember it and consider the implications for a long time to come.
It reminds me of the two judges in PA that were found to have been sending kids to youth homes for money. I’m not sure if you had read that here on FR (there were many articles a year or two ago). Basically if the kid was out after curfew or something minor like that, the judges would sentences them to live in a group home for a few weeks/months. Then the group home people would say that Johnny had behaviour problems, etc. So they’d keep them there for another year, etc. All the while it was costing the parents something like a court ordered 30k or something like that.
It turned out, that they had sent hundreds of kids there for like an average of 18 months a piece. And then the group homes were paying the judges MILLIONS of dollars. Our system is so corrupt I cannot even dream up some of the rackets like this. I know in the state I live currently (Utah), that the legislature has capped the amount you have to pay on each level of crime. So, the courts started adding an 85% (Processing, or some such nonsense), surcharge onto all fines and fees. They have to make their cut, you see.
It’s as corrupt as corruption can be system. I now know how the Founding Fathers felt. They just wanted to be left alone. My apologies to anyone if they feel like we took the thread off toptic, but I would never have learned of your story otherwise. Thank you very much.
I think one kid even killed himself after having his life ruined this way.
Well, I used to write software for various court systems.
Many court systems are indistinguishable from organized crime.
The fees and fines are not reported accurately to anybody. And many times the judges just steal from the court. I was prevented, time and again, from implementing standard accounting practices. I dont know of any court that has standard accounting practices. It just gets deposited into some mysterious bank account and disappears. If you try to figure it out, your contract ends. So you just shut up.
That is why litigation exploded in the sixties.
Don’t tell anybody I told you this. lol
Further details will not be forthcoming.
You remind us why we need to expand thew definition of capital crimes.
No deterrent, extirmination