Taubes says the debt hurts reintegration

Civil-rights and criminal-defense attorney

“It hurts people's ability to reintegrate into society when they carry these debts”
Open source (opens in a new tab)They served their time in prison. Then the bills arrived.Full article, including the sections headed "Additional punishment," "The John Gottis of the world," "Blood from a stone," "Calls for repeal," "Collections continue," "A punch in the heart" and "Priority creditor"

Source and context

Reporting

They served their time in prison. Then the bills arrived. (opens in a new tab)Full article, including the sections headed "Additional punishment," "The John Gottis of the world," "Blood from a stone," "Calls for repeal," "Collections continue," "A punch in the heart" and "Priority creditor"

About this source

CT Mirror investigation into Connecticut's cost-of-incarceration collection law, published September 27, 2026. Based on a review of hundreds of probate-court cases filed from 2020 to 2026 and interviews with more than a dozen affected people, state officials, legislators and advocates. Anchors this case's account of the practice's scale, mechanics and the on-record positions of DAS, the Attorney General's office and named advocates and affected individuals.

Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Before the quotation

Taubes was commenting on the effect of Connecticut's incarceration debt on people after release.

After the quotation

CT Mirror's investigation found many people pursued for the debt did not know they owed it until a lien was filed against them.

How this statement is classified

Condemned

Case context: Should Connecticut collect per diem incarceration fees from former inmates' settlements and windfalls?

The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.

Why this label?

Taubes criticizes the practical effect of the debt on people rebuilding their lives after release.

Recorded on
Published here
People and groups discussed
Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Department of Administrative Services

More from this case

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Lisa Foster

“It's not the way we should be running the criminal justice system. It's a regressive tax”
Read statement