American Law Enforcement Agencies Police for Profit Despite U.S. Department of Justice Orders, Still

Revenue. It sounds as if it’s part of the capitalistic ideals that drive the American economy. However, when cities implement ordinances designed to increase revenue, it becomes a debtor’s prison for many low income communities throughout the nation.

When Americans hear the term “debtor’s prison,” they think of some far-off country in Africa or South America. Many don’t look at their own judicial system to make the connection of the person’s socio-economic status as the almost predetermined outcome of jail.

It is a well-settled matter, slavery has been outlawed in the United States for over 150 years. That was codified in a battle in Adams County, Pennsylvania, where one of the nation’s most well-known battles took place. Indentured servitude, which is also known as debtor’s prison, has been outlawed in the United States since 1833.

Debtor prisons are not isolated incidents in the United States and occurred in almost every state. They have become ingrained into our society for being tough on crime, imprisoning people for petty crimes of that range from unregistered cars in their driveways to not having curtains on the front window.

Those who are unable to pay their fines end up with a warrant for their arrest and spend up to 30 days in jail. That jail sentence doesn’t do away with their fine, it becomes a system of enforcing the fines. A cycle that keeps residents in debt, and keeping them in poverty.

Texas Cop Who Body-Slammed Student Gets Fired

The San Antonio Independent School District dismissed the school police officer who body-slammed a female student, CNN reports.

School District Superintendent Pedro Martinez said the officer went too far, according to the network: “We understand that situations can sometimes escalate to the point of requiring a physical response; however, in this situation we believe that the extent of the response was absolutely unwarranted.”

School officials said Officer Joshua Kehm was responding on March 29 to a report of two students arguing outside Rhodes Middle School. The video, which appeared April 5 on YouTube, shows Kehm throwing the girl to the ground. He then handcuffs her before picking up her motionless body and walking her away.

According to CNN, Martinez said Kehm’s delayed report was “inconsistent” with what the video shows.

The San Antonio Express-News identified the student as 12-year-old Janissa Valdez. Her mother, Gloria Valdez, spoke with the Express-News about her reaction to the encounter: “I guess we’re still both kind of shocked. We still can’t believe it happened.”

The mother stated that Janissa had swelling on her upper right temple, which has since gone down. She also admitted that her daughter had been in previous fights with other students. Valdez said her daughter has been bullied since the start of the school year.

The school district’s investigation is ongoing. Officials will decide whether to take further action after concluding their probe, CNN reports.

Texas school police officer fired for ‘absolutely unwarranted’ body slam of 12-year-old girl

A Texas school police officer seen throwing a 12-year-old girl to the ground on video was fired Monday for his “absolutely unwarranted” conduct, officials said.

Footage surfaced online last week of Officer Joshua Kehm subduing Janissa Valdez March 29 at Rhodes Middle School in San Antonio. Police said she and another girl were about to fight in a hallway that afternoon when Kehm intervened.READ MORE

How Many More Black Women Have to Die in Police Custody?

Kindra Chapman, 18, died in a cell in Alabama. She hanged herself with a bed sheet.

Joyce Curnell, 50, died in South Carolina, allegedly begging for water and medication that never came.

Ralkina Jones, 37, died in Ohio. She had a heart condition among other medical issues and was recorded telling officers that “she didn’t want to die in a jail cell.”

Raynette Turner, 43, died in New York. The mother of eight was found dead in a Mount Vernon jail even though she, too, alerted the authorities to her medical condition.

Sandra Bland‘s death horrified the nation. Bland, at just 28 years old, was driving home after having landed her dream job, when former Texas state trooper Brian Encinia stopped her for supposedly failing to signal a lane change. The stop devolved into a beating off-camera, an arrest, and Bland would be found hanging dead in a Waller County Texas jail cell three days later.