In Small-Town Georgia, A Broken Taillight Can Lead to Spiraling Debt w/Nick Barber

Sep 16

Today, Hunter sat down with Nick Barber, author of a recent piece in the magazine In These Times called “In Small-Town Georgia, A Broken Taillight Can Lead to Spiraling Debt”. In his investigation and writing, Nick uncovered a corrupt private probation system that keeps people under control of the state for years in what appears to be an effort to generate revenue for Clayton, Georgia and for the company.

As is so often the case, Nick highlights the story of two poor people who lives were upended by this abusive system of debt, and it is clear throughout the work that at no point in time did the city ask, “Does this actually improve public safety?” From this episode, Hunter hopes you are able to walk away with a better understanding of the insidious ways in which we have forced small towns around the country have trapped countless Americans in a cycle of poverty through the crushing force of the criminal legal system.

Guests:

Nick Barber, Journalist and Former Investigator for the Southern Center for Human Rights

Key Topics and Takeaways:

Nick’s work with the Southern Center for Human Rights and finding this story [7:15]

Nick’s advice to those who want to get into Court Watching [11:00]

Background on Clayton, Georgia and Municipal Courts [13:50]

The Impacts of Private Probation on Ms. Lynn Davis [18:10]

Where is the Public Defender in Clayton, Georiga? [27:00]

The Impacts of Judge Sneed on revenue generated through fines and fees [31:38]

How the system trapped a 72 year old woman in years of debt [35:30]

How Georgia tried to address Private Probation [37:30]

How Clayton Georgia worked around the State’s remedy [40:00]