Name: Washtenaw County forgives $509K in jail debt for more than 31,000 people
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Washtenaw County forgives $509K in jail debt for more than 31,000 people

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Detroit Free Press Washtenaw County is wiping out more than half a million dollars in debt owed by more than 31,000 people who have been incarcerated at the&nbsp;jail within the last eight years.Sheriff Jerry Clayton&nbsp;announced the decision Thursday, saying in a news release that "the burden of jail debt is an added negative factor" that can undermine attempts at a successful reentry and "feed the cycle of incarceration."In conjunction with the county Board of Commissioners, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office is forgiving&nbsp;$509,888 in debt owed by&nbsp;31,614 people for things ranging from booking fees to nonemergency medical and dental services.&nbsp;The Sheriff's Office says people booked into jail for more than 24 hours receive a free set of items to cover their basic needs: deodorant, a comb, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste&nbsp;and a razor. Additional supplies and services are available for purchase from commissary, and those without the ability to pay incur a debt.&nbsp;The&nbsp; allows sheriffs to seek reimbursement for expenses incurred during incarceration.&nbsp;"We've never aggressively gone after that money," Clayton told the Free Press.&nbsp;"We don't report it to a credit agency because why would you add more stress to people who are&nbsp;already stressed?"While someone who owes money to the jail&nbsp;is incarcerated, the Sheriff's Office pulls from funds that loved ones load onto their commissary account&nbsp;to cover their debt.More:More:Debt is forgiven for people who were jailed at any point from Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2020.The Sheriff's Office provided the following breakdown of debt since 2013:Going forward, officials say they are exploring changes to fees for services including nonemergency medical and dental visits, barber services, copies, medical slips, hygiene kits, stationary and booking fees. Doctor and dentist visits cost $10. Barber services are $15. State booking fees are $12. Copies are 10 cents. Slips for over-the-counter medication are 50 cents per dose.The Sheriff's Office said people with debt who can't afford medical and dental services might put it off, potentially leading to more expensive emergency care&nbsp;that county taxpayers are obligated to cover.&nbsp;Officials also expect behavior among people in the jail to improve as their basic needs are met, which, according to the news release, is "a key contributor to maintaining safety for staff, volunteers, and incarcerated individuals."Angie Jackson covers the challenges of formerly incarcerated citizens as a corps member with Report for America.&nbsp;Her work is supported by The GroundTruth Project and the Hudson-Webber Foundation.&nbsp; to make a tax-deductible contribution to&nbsp;support her work. .&nbsp;&nbsp;Contact Angie: ; 313-222-1850. Follow her on Twitter:

Detroit Free Press Washtenaw County is wiping out more than half a million dollars in debt owed by more than 31,000 people who have been incarcerated at the&nbsp;jail within the last eight years.Sheriff Jerry Clayton&nbsp;announced the decision Thursday, saying in a news release that "the burden of jail debt is an added negative factor" that can undermine attempts at a successful reentry and "feed the cycle of incarceration."In conjunction with the county Board of Commissioners, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office is forgiving&nbsp;$509,888 in debt owed by&nbsp;31,614 people for things...

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Angie Jackson

The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, US. The Sunday edition is titled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes referred to as the Freep (reflected in the paper's web address, www.freep.com). It primarily serves Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Washtenaw, and Monroe counties.  The Free Press is also the largest city newspaper owned by Gannett, which also publishes USA Today. The Free Press has received ten Pulitzer Prizes and four Emmy Awards. Its motto is "On Guard for 189 Years".

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Washtenaw County forgives $509K in jail debt for more than 31,000 people

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