[artichokegrower]

Actually I don't think that this is a bad idea. Bankrupting the families of gang bangers. In Israel they bulldoze the homes of terrorists punishing not only them but also their families. Maybe the word will get out to these street thugs that if you get caught you family is going to be homeless.

[glorgau]

Squeeze until nothing comes out. Then stop.

[cyclotic]

I don’t see a problem.

Some useless garbage street scum just arson destroyed a brand new park in my town. I fully expect when they find these human trash receptacles that they absolutely bankrupt them and their family to cover the $80K in damage to brand new playground equipment.

[stinkerpot65]

Violent criminals, yeah. But they also do this for truancy and minor crimes.

[SkyDancer]

If you’re on SS and go to prison I believe that money goes to pay for your incarceration.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

NYS also allows municipalities to go after parents of juveniles who are placed in state custody, the amount being a sliding scale based on income.

[Theoria]

'But instead of backing off, the probation department continued to pursue Rivera – saying it supported her son and citing a law created to ensure people couldn’t escape alimony and child-support payments via bankruptcy.'

Ouch. I guess selling your assets and going into bankruptcy isn't enough for .gov.

[Shanghai Dan]

This is the problem: she declared bankruptcy, the OC debt was discharged via bankruptcy, and the county CONTINUED to pursue:

Last week, the Orange County Probation Department was scolded by a federal appeals court for continuing to pursue the debt after Rivera’s bankruptcy, calling the county’s tenacity “disturbing” and ruling that it could not continue to go after Rivera for her debt.

That's a no-no. When a debt is discharged via bankruptcy, it's gone. You can't go after it again. That's a violation of Federal bankruptcy laws. They already took everything she had - and she sought and earned legal relief.

This is really a county shakedown... I don't like it when Governments illegally shake people down for money, breaking their own laws to do so.

[SgtHooper]

If she pays taxes, I would have some problem with this. Perhaps determine on a case-by-case basis, but that would not be fair under such a law. Hmmm...