Proposed Bureau of Prisons Rule Would Make Federal Inmates Pay Compensation First : NPR

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) during an oversight hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, September 29, 2022

Mariam Zuhaib/AP


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Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) during an oversight hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, September 29, 2022

Mariam Zuhaib/AP

Renee Hoolan sends $75 to his son Bailey Sanders every month. He’s been in prison for the past six years, so he’s using that money for over-the-counter drugs, work shoes, phone time, and more. Ms Phulan said having her son in prison was tough, but she wants to stay connected and help her son.

However, under the new rules proposed by the Prisons Authority, most of the money Phulan sent to his son did not get to him. Instead, most of the money that goes into the prisoners’ kiosk accounts is used first to pay their return debts and outstanding court fines.

Opponents of the plan claim it will shift the blame to families like Phu Lan.

“I still love him and I understand the addiction,” Phulan said. is.”

Sanders agrees with his mother. He hates having to ask for help. “My mother is all I have and she is limited in what she can do,” he said. “In short, she said it was her responsibility to pay my restitution.” I don’t think so.”

The new rule requires that 75% of all money sent by family and friends to someone in prison must be used to pay outstanding debts.

The Bureau of Prisons, in a Washington Post investigation, raised concerns that sex offenders and celebrities such as former rap artist R. Kelly leave large sums of money in prison accounts rather than pay their victims compensation. has surfaced and we are considering changing the rules.

Members of parliament from both parties were outraged to learn that inmates were avoiding paying reparations. At a Capitol Hill hearing last September, Iowa Sen. spending.”

But lawyers and advocates for people in prison feel the proposed rule goes too far. Shanna Rifkin, Deputy General Counsel for Families Against Mandatory Minimums, agrees the Bureau of Prisons shouldn’t let wealthy people like her R. Kelly evade restitution, but the proposed rule is too broad I think.

“It’s really like a hammer when you can bring a much smaller tool to deal with a problem,” she said.

Other proponents, such as Ellen Degnan, a staff attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center, argue that courts should settle matters by setting individual payment plans at the time of sentencing.

“Courts can resolve this issue,” she said. “This is not for the BOP to intervene.”

Even advocates of those with restitution obligations are wary of the proposed rule. Bridgette Stumpf, executive her director of the Network for Victim Recovery nonprofit in DC, said the rule could allow some victims to be returned more quickly than they otherwise would have been. I believe there is. Still, she believes results need to be balanced.

Many of those affected by the proposed rule will not be obligated to reimburse victims, but instead be obligated to pay court fines and fees related to their first judgment.Sagan Soto-Stanton’s husband also I am one of them. He’s been in prison for the past decade for non-violent drug offenses and still has $9,000 worth of court fees to pay. Seeing the proposed rule was difficult for Soto-Stanton.

“It’s already impacting families like mine who are supporting loved ones, but doing things like this only makes it more difficult.”

The Bureau of Prisons declined NPR’s request for comment. In a statement, a spokesperson said concession accounts are a privilege and the department remains committed to helping inmates pay their financial obligations. It said there is no deadline for a decision on the rules.

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Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) during an oversight hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, September 29, 2022

Mariam Zuhaib/AP

hide caption

toggle caption

Mariam Zuhaib/AP

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) during an oversight hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, September 29, 2022

Mariam Zuhaib/AP

Renee Hoolan sends $75 to his son Bailey Sanders every month. He’s been in prison for the past six years, so he’s using that money for over-the-counter drugs, work shoes, phone time, and more. Ms Phulan said having her son in prison was tough, but she wants to stay connected and help her son. However, under the new rules proposed by the Prisons Authority, most of the money Phulan sent to his son did not get to him. Instead, most of the money that goes into the prisoners’ kiosk accounts is used first to pay their return debts and outstanding court fines. Opponents of the plan claim it will shift the blame to families like Phu Lan. “I still love him and I understand the addiction,” Phulan said. is.” Sanders agrees with his mother. He hates having to ask for help. “My mother is all I have and she is limited in what she can do,” he said. “In short, she said it was her responsibility to pay my restitution.” I don’t think so.”

The new rule requires that 75% of all money sent by family and friends to someone in prison must be used to pay outstanding debts. The Bureau of Prisons, in a Washington Post investigation, raised concerns that sex offenders and celebrities such as former rap artist R. Kelly leave large sums of money in prison accounts rather than pay their victims compensation. has surfaced and we are considering changing the rules. Members of parliament from both parties were outraged to learn that inmates were avoiding paying reparations. At a Capitol Hill hearing last September, Iowa Sen. spending.” But lawyers and advocates for people in prison feel the proposed rule goes too far. Shanna Rifkin, Deputy General Counsel for Families Against Mandatory Minimums, agrees the Bureau of Prisons shouldn’t let wealthy people like her R. Kelly evade restitution, but the proposed rule is too broad I think. “It’s really like a hammer when you can bring a much smaller tool to deal with a problem,” she said.

Other proponents, such as Ellen Degnan, a staff attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center, argue that courts should settle matters by setting individual payment plans at the time of sentencing. “Courts can resolve this issue,” she said. “This is not for the BOP to intervene.” Even advocates of those with restitution obligations are wary of the proposed rule. Bridgette Stumpf, executive her director of the Network for Victim Recovery nonprofit in DC, said the rule could allow some victims to be returned more quickly than they otherwise would have been. I believe there is. Still, she believes results need to be balanced. Many of those affected by the proposed rule will not be obligated to reimburse victims, but instead be obligated to pay court fines and fees related to their first judgment.Sagan Soto-Stanton’s husband also I am one of them. He’s been in prison for the past decade for non-violent drug offenses and still has $9,000 worth of court fees to pay. Seeing the proposed rule was difficult for Soto-Stanton. “It’s already impacting families like mine who are supporting loved ones, but doing things like this only makes it more difficult.” The Bureau of Prisons declined NPR’s request for comment. In a statement, a spokesperson said concession accounts are a privilege and the department remains committed to helping inmates pay their financial obligations. It said there is no deadline for a decision on the rules.

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/28/1170505972/federal-prisons-want-inmates-to-pay-victims-before-making-phone-calls-or-buying- Proposed Bureau of Prisons Rule Would Make Federal Inmates Pay Compensation First : NPR

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