The Growing Prison/Court Industry

As community activists for justice, the following letter to the editor can be used to shine a light on the incentives for the number of arrests made as well as how court rulings are made. The general public is unaware of the fact that courts, public defender's and district attorney's offices are corporations and so seek income streams gained from the arrests, fines, fees and assets of the general public for funding. The need for judicial accountability has never been needed more than it is today. See http://www.JAIL4Judges.org to arm yourself with knowledge and read about the Judicial Accountability Initiative Law that empowers the people over corrupt judges.

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Re: “Supes seek input on future budget of justice system”, Daily Republic, 10/19/02.

This article reflects the growing justice/jail industry that brings in money to counties across California that should be exposed for what it really means to the general public.

I purpose that the community take a deeper look and have a greater understanding about how the county is funded, who controls the money, how the funds are used, and what the incentives are that more people are needed to be fined and sent to jail to support the county’s economic needs.

Grant money that the county receives for the criminal justice system is received for each prisoner which should cause alarm to the residents of Solano. I recently saw a video of a city council meeting in this state where the speaker was dragged off to jail by the bailiff due to complaining that the city council members were repeatedly interrupting him during his three minutes of addressing the council.

Substantial benefits by the monetary settlements in quasi-criminal cases brings in still more money. The judges have financial interests in the courthouses that are businesses and receive supplemental pay from the county, and receive legal representation by county counsel, so that judges are going to rule favorable for the county.

In LA county, the judges receive “double dipping” for health and insurance benefits and extra perks that are not disclosed to the public, resulting in intrinsic fraud.
The County Board of Supervisors control the application and disbursement of state and federal grants, many of which are used for court services, and many court cases have the potential of financially helping or hurting the county, such as eminent domain, workers comp, taxation, juvenile cases, etc. A conflict of interest comes when the courts have incentives of receiving grant money.

Through eminent domain, guardianship and conservatorship services, assets of the elderly or disabled are also targeted. This brings in more money to the county. I know of one case now in Vacaville where a disabled resident’s property is being usurped by the city.

The Gov’t code allows a Courthouse Construction fund, the amount decided upon the Board of Supes, to help finance facilities of the justice system. Money is also needed for the corporate interests of the justice system involved in paying judges.that relies in part upon the fines and fees of the public, which pays into the Trial Court Funding Act. The California Constitution specifically says that judges cannot use fines or fees for their personal use, but judges’ salaries are paid to some extent through this fund, creating another conflict of interest.

How much “justice” do the people really have when the courts/jails are based upon commerce rather than on the Constitution? The people should read our Constitutions, which can be found at assemblypersons offices at no cost in paperback form. Solano County judges and all political officials should be held strictly accountable for all abuse of power at the expense of the free sovereigns of this county.

Suzanne LeBoeuf, Solano County Warden, J.A.I.L.4Judges.org