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Federal Lawsuit Alleges Pre-Trial Supervision Fees Hold Plaintiffs Ransom

Courtesy: Pixabay Public Domain
Credit Courtesy: Pixabay Public Domain
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Courtesy: Pixabay Public Domain

SUPERVISION FEES AT QUESTION - A racketeering lawsuit alleges that a Baton Rouge pretrial supervision company essentially holds inmates for ransom even after they've paid their bond, by requiring a $525 fee to get out of jail.   The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana and the Southern Poverty Law Center say the company gets referrals from a state district judge with whom it has political ties. The lawsuit, filed late Monday by the ACLU of Louisiana and the Southern Poverty Law Center, accuses the company, Rehabilitation Home Incarceration, of violating state and federal racketeering laws by "extorting" an initial $525 payment and hundreds of dollars in subsequent fees from defendants assigned to pretrial supervision.  The lawsuit contends that 19th Judicial District Judge Trudy White ordered more than 300 defendants to RHI supervision in 2015 and 2016.  Louisiana ACLU director Marjorie Esman explained to public radio WRKF that RHI supported Judge White's political campaign. White was not named a defendant in the lawsuit.

Credit Courtesy: Pixabay Public Domain
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Courtesy: Pixabay Public Domain
COURT REFERRALS -  RHI was named in a federal lawsuit filed Monday by La. ACLU   for alleged civil rights violations and alleged racketeering.
Credit Courtesy: RHI Website
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Courtesy: RHI Website
COURT REFERRALS - RHI was named in a federal lawsuit filed Monday by La. ACLU for alleged civil rights violations and alleged racketeering.

SUPERVISION FEES AT QUESTION - A racketeering lawsuit alleges that a Baton Rouge pretrial supervision company essentially holds inmates for ransom even after they've paid their bond, by requiring a $525 fee to get out of jail.

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Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' experience to Red River Radio having started out as a radio news reporter and moving into television journalism as a newsmagazine producer / host, talk-show moderator, programming director and managing producer and news director / anchor for commercial, public broadcasting and educational television. He has more recently worked in advertising, marketing and public relations as a writer, video producer and media consultant. In pursuit of higher learning, Chuck studied Mass Communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.