3 ms·
I don't the think ban on "cruel and unusual punishment" was meant to cover this: "Each had been fined between $25 and $75. Five of them were sentenced to time
by Bostonian 7y ago
I don't the think ban on "cruel and unusual punishment" was meant to cover this:
"Each had been fined between $25 and $75. Five of them were sentenced to time served, while one twice served a single day in jail."
- reaperducer 7y agoWhen you have $0, a $25 fine is cruel and unusual. Especially since not paying that fine that you can't pay means you go to jail.
- dv_dt 7y agoAnd tragically, we seem to always fund space in jails ahead of space in homeless shelters.
- oasisbob 7y agoAs I understand the issue, it's not fining someone who is indigent which is the constitutional issue. The core issue is punishing someone for something they are, vs punishing them for their behavior. The courts have said its cruel to prosecute someone for not having a home, when you're pretending that it's their behavior which is under attack. Shelter is essential to life.