Ga. private probation industry target of lawsuits | savannahnow.com

ATLANTA — Opponents of Georgia’s private probation system say companies supervising low-level offenders are earning untold amounts of money in fees while using law enforcement offices as collections agencies when they go unpaid.

More than a dozen lawsuits argue for state lawmakers to re-evaluate some of the companies’ practices, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://bit.ly/1e3SvvO) reported Sunday. The Georgia Supreme Court this year is expected to examine the fees and other expenses probation companies impose, which have led some low-level offenders back to jail because of nonpayment.

The newspaper reports 34 probation companies operating in Georgia have supervised nearly 349,000 low-level offenders in the past two years and have collected more than $200 million in fines and restitution.

via Ga. private probation industry target of lawsuits | savannahnow.com.