Testimony submitted as part of a coalition of advocates coordinated under the umbrella of the Michigan Campaign for Justice. The hearing was titled: "Representation of Indigent Defendants in Criminal Cases: A Constitutional Crisis in Michigan and Other States?”
A monthly fee charged to Maryland parolees often grows to a burdensome debt that hinders their attempts to build a life after prison and runs counter to the mission of the parole program, according to a study that will be released this week....
Parolees from whom the state seeks to subsidize its coffers are often struggling to get by at the most basic level. This publication notes the fees drive people into debt, do little to fund the state, and severely affect recidivism. This study offers key findings as well as recommendations to correct the problem.
