Day 2: Outstanding court debt blocks many Oklahomans from getting convictions expunged
By Michael Overall Tulsa World Dec 2, 2019
Buck West (left), a case manage for the 1st Step prison diversion program, drops off a resident of the agency's sober-living house at a substance-abuse treatment center in November. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World.
Matt Barnard
Matt Barnard
Editor's Note
About the series
Criminal justice reform advocates argue that increased application of court fines and fees has led to a two-tiered justice system — one where those who can afford to pay go free while those who can’t afford to pay often get stuck in a cycle of increasing debt as they struggle to pay down what can amount to tens of thousands of dollars of legal debts.
In May, the Tulsa World examined how this system has grown in Oklahoma because of a greater reliance on court fines and fees to pay for various government agencies.
Since August, the Tulsa World has investigated this issue. Below is our multi-part series as we look at the people who are affected by this system and the toll it takes on them as they try to get their lives back on track.
About the series
Criminal justice reform advocates argue that increased application of court fines and fees has led to a two-tiered justice system — one where those who can afford to pay go free while those who can’t afford to pay often get stuck in a cycle of increasing debt as they struggle to pay down what can amount to tens of thousands of dollars of legal debts.
In May, the Tulsa World examined how this system has grown in Oklahoma because of a greater reliance on court fines and fees to pay for various government agencies.
Since August, the Tulsa World has investigated this issue. Below is our multi-part series as we look at the people who are affected by this system and the toll it takes on them as they try to get their lives back on track.