The justice system in general is a huge financial drag on anyone connected to someone accused of a crime. Unless they just cut them loose completely. Court fees

The justice system in general is a huge financial drag on anyone connected to someone accused of a crime. Unless they just cut them loose completely. Court fees. Fees for all kinds of stuff in jail or prison. Lawyer costs. Rehab instead of prison? Pay that (huge, inflated) bill or off to prison they go. Hell I think there are even parole fees, at least some places. It seemingly never ends (I've been lucky not to be close enough to experience it personally, but have seen it from a shortish distance) I'd bet it's a big part of why the poverty/crime cycle is so hard to break. Families already on the margin pushed off the edge by all the expenses associated with having someone close to you get charged with a crime (again, unless you just totally cut them loose and pretend they're dead, not caring at all what happens to them).