Consumer Issues for Justice-Involved Individuals Archives

Criminal Justice

Working to stop unfair financial practices in the criminal justice system and to ease re-entry.

Prison and Jail Phone Justice Advocates Applaud FCC’s Action to Affirm Rights for People with Disabilities

September 29, 2022

Advocates say this action is long overdue and necessary to ensure people with disabilities have access to communications while incarcerated. Today, civil rights leaders and advocacy organizations working across various issues in criminal legal and prison reform are commending the Federal Communications Commission’s order on prison communications, particularly the long-awaited action to affirm the rights…

Testimony in Support of MA S. 1559

November 2, 2021

Written Testimony before the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security In support of S. 1559, An Act Relative to Inmate Telephone Calls.

Comments to the Massachusetts Trial Court Public Access to Court Records Committee regarding criminal cases and internet access to docket entries and court files

The following comments are submitted on behalf of the National Consumer Law Center’s low-income clients. We write in response to your Notice of Public Hearing on the issue of providing access to court documents and records on the internet. We write to specifically oppose providing online access to criminal records and believe that doing so…

Confronting Criminal Justice Debt: A Guide for Policy Reform

September 6, 2016

CJPP has developed a Guide for Policy Reform, which highlights the different areas of law that spawn harmful practices and outlines a wide array of policy levers for bringing about systemic reform. The guide provides a detailed discussion of policy strategies for (1) addressing conflicts of interest that arise when legal actors rely on revenue generated…

Sentenced to a Life of Debt: It Is Time for a Reassessment of How Bankruptcy Law Intersects with Fines and Fees to Keep People in Debt

February 16, 2022

Over the past several decades, bankruptcy gave tens of millions of Americans a fresh start free from crushing debt. Although criminal justice debt weighs disproportionately upon those with the least ability to pay, it has generally been excluded from bankruptcy’s fresh start. This exclusion has been grounded on the belief that allowing discharge of monetary…

Coalition Letter to the U.S. House Urging Passage of the Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act

October 6, 2021

The undersigned grassroots advocates, and civil rights, consumer rights and faith-based organizations thank you for the opportunity to express our strong support for H.R. 2489, the Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act, which would eliminate predatory calling rates for incarcerated people in the United States. We urge you to move swiftly and take the necessary…

Opposition to Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment in Pearson v. Hodgson

August 3, 2020

Defendant Securus Technologies, Inc.’s opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion to Alter of Amend Order of Judgment and certify question of law to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. For the reasons stated in Sheriff Hodgson’s Opposition, Plaintiffs’ Motion should be denied.

Decision on Motion to Dismiss in Pearson v. Hodgson

December 20, 2018

The court ALLOWS in part and DENIES in part Sheriff Hodgson’s Motion to Dismiss and Securus’s Motion to Dismiss.

Defendant's Motions for Judgments on the Pleadings in Pearson v. Hodgson

June 22, 2020

Defendants’ Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings are ALLOWED, and Plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Count I and Motion for Class Certification are DENIED.

Group Letter Urging the FCC to Reduce Phone Call Costs for People Who Are Incarcerated and to Ensure Accessible Communications for Incarcerated People with Disabilities

December 17, 2021

Groups urge the FCC to reduce phone call costs for people who are incarcerated and to ensure accessible communications for incarcerated people with disabilities.

Group Letter Urging Massachusetts Legislators to Pass No Cost Calls Legislation

September 3, 2020

The Massachusetts State Legislature must act now to address the ongoing extraction of vital resources from families, predominantly Black and Brown, seeking to stay connected to incarcerated loved ones. We urge you to pass S. 2846 to remove the cost barrier to phone calls for incarcerated people and their families.

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