Private Probation Robs the Poor

November 2009

Private Probation Robs the Poor

AMERICUS -- The local NAACP is taking a stand against what it says are the state's greedy private probation companies.

The Americus-Sumter County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has addressed the Americus City Council and the Georgia State Legislature in its argument that poor people who come to court and cannot afford to pay some fines right away, are immediately placed on probation and end up paying a ridiculous amount of added fees.

Matt Wright, president of the NAACP, cited how a person who can't afford to pay a $220 traffic ticket during their court appearance is placed on probation and the private probation system (PPS) automatically adds a fee of $420, and the State of Georgia has a mandatory fee of $109.00.

Wright points out that people who can pay fines on court day are fortunate in contrast to poor people who end-up paying over $700.00 for the same traffic violation.

"The private probation system is just robbing and oppressing people with all of these added fees," Wright said. "It just comes down to greed and abuse of the poor." Wright wants the Americus mayor and city council members, who have the authority to cancel the contract with the private probation company, and move to a city public probation system.

Probation Office located in Americus, GA

He also wants the GA legislators to introduce a bill to do away with private probation companies completely.The NAACP has filed eight complaints with the Probation Advisory Council in Macon, GA and Wright is planning to hold a meeting with Judge Michael Green to discuss the complaints. "Thousands of poor people across the state of Georgia, in particular African-Americans, are being placed on probation because they are too poor to pay misdemeanor fines," said Wright. "This leaves only one conclusion - the state of Georgia is not living-up to the constitutional promise of equal justice under the law."

The NAACP has been sitting in Sumter County courtrooms, documenting evidence to support their argument on behalf of the less fortunate citizens. Wright said that on Oct. 28 of this year, the NAACP attended city court where Judge Michael Green presides. There were 17 cases that the NAACP noted and all but one had a black defendant. Wright said Judge Green did rule in favor of four of the 17 cases before him. However, the other 13 were fined according to the law and the $420.00 probation fee was demanded.

Earlier this month, Wright traveled to Atlanta and asked legislators to introduce a bill to do away with private probation companies, completely. Wright said if they could not get such a bill passed, at least they can put forth a bill that would at least limit the fee amount charged by private probation companies. And, that private probation companies should not be allowed to charge more than the initial fine. If the fine is $100, then the PPS fee should be no more than $100. Wright further stated that the private probation companies, according to the document, are getting their fees first followed by the collection of state fees. This means that if a probationer is not able to complete payments, the PPS makes sure that they get as much of their own fees regardless.

Having the city do its own probation service would cut out the abuses of private probationers. "Private probation companies use threats of imprisonment, and bullying tactics to squeeze money from poor people under their supervision," said Wright. "The Private Probation System simply does not work."