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This is a series of stories reported jointly by Oklahoma Watch and KGOU Radio. The latest segments from KGOU reporter Kate Carlton Greer can be found at www.kgou.org.

Part 1: Prisoners of Debt: Justice System Imposes Steep Fines, Fees

Plus: A Journey Into Debt: Tracing the Costs

Part 2: For Some Drug Offenders, a ‘Revolving Door’ of Fees

Part 3: Revenue Dilemma at Heart of Rising Offender Fees

Part 4: Families Pay Steep Prices for Inmates’ Phone Calls

Audio: Reporters Discuss Issues With KGOU

Part 5: Prison Bankers Exact Fees, Profits From Families

Part 6: Ex-Offenders Face Steep Price to Reinstate Driver’s Licenses

Part 7: Offender’s Story: Untying the Bonds of Court Debt

Plus: Groups Serve as Havens for Ex-Offenders

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‘Prisoners of Debt’

by Oklahoma Watch, Oklahoma Watch
February 19, 2015

<h1>‘Prisoners of Debt’</h1>
<p class="byline">by Oklahoma Watch, Oklahoma Watch <br />February 19, 2015</p>
 
<div class="wp-block-image wp-caption aligncenter">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/PrisonersOfDebt-Logo.jpg"><img src="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/PrisonersOfDebt-Logo-336x336.jpg" alt="Prisoners of Debt" class="wp-image-3182" width="300" height="300" /></a><figcaption>This is&nbsp;a series of stories reported jointly by Oklahoma Watch and KGOU Radio. The latest segments from KGOU reporter Kate Carlton Greer can be found at www.kgou.org.</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft is-resized"><a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Darlene-Lorenz.jpg"><img src="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Darlene-Lorenz-140x140.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3185" width="140" height="140" /></a></figure>
</div>
<h3><strong>Part 1:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/2015/01/31/justice-system-steeps-many-offenders-in-debt/">Prisoners of Debt: Justice System Imposes Steep Fines, Fees</a></h3>
<h5>Plus:<a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/2015/01/31/list-journey-into-debt/"> A Journey Into Debt: Tracing the Costs</a></h5>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft is-resized"><a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Michael-Harveson3.jpg"><img src="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Michael-Harveson3-140x140.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3199" width="140" height="140" /></a></figure>
</div>
<h3>Part 2:&nbsp;<a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/2015/02/02/for-some-offenders-a-revolving-door-of-fees/">For Some Drug Offenders, a ‘Revolving Door’ of Fees</a></h3>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft is-resized"><a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Capitol-Dome.png"><img src="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Capitol-Dome-140x140.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3104" width="140" height="140" /></a></figure>
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<h3>Part 3: <a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/2015/02/08/revenue-dilemma-at-heart-of-rising-offender-fees/">Revenue Dilemma at Heart of Rising Offender Fees</a></h3>
<h3>
<figure><a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Brenda-Baker.jpeg"><img class="alignleft wp-image-3263 size-thumbnail" src="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Brenda-Baker-140x140.jpeg" alt="" width="140" height="140"></a></figure>
<p>Part 4:&nbsp;<a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/2015/02/14/families-pay-steep-price-for-inmate-calls/">Families Pay Steep Prices for Inmates’ Phone Calls</a></h3>
<h6>Audio:<a href="http://kgou.org/post/oklahomas-crime-funded-court-system-leaves-many-offenders-substantial-debt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Reporters Discuss Issues With KGOU</a></h6>
<h3>
<figure><a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/JPayCard.jpg"><img class="alignleft wp-image-3274 size-thumbnail" src="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/JPayCard-140x140.jpg" alt="" width="140" height="140"></a></figure>
<p>Part 5:&nbsp;<a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/2015/02/17/prison-bankers-exact-fees-profits-from-families/">Prison Bankers Exact Fees, Profits From Families</a></h3>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft is-resized"><a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/John-Atkinson2.jpg"><img src="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/John-Atkinson2-140x140.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3308" width="140" height="140" /></a></figure>
</div>
<h3>Part 6:&nbsp;<a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/2015/02/23/for-released-offenders-a-steep-price-to-drive-again/">Ex-Offenders Face Steep Price to Reinstate Driver’s Licenses</a></h3>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft is-resized"><a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Homer-Stephens1.jpg"><img src="http://oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Homer-Stephens1-140x140.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3328" width="140" height="140" /></a></figure>
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<h3>Part 7:&nbsp;<a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/2015/02/26/courts-push-collection-of-fines-and-fees/">Offender’s Story: Untying the Bonds of Court Debt</a></h3>
<h5>Plus:&nbsp;<a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/2015/02/24/groups-serve-as-havens-for-ex-offenders/">Groups Serve as Havens for Ex-Offenders</a></h5>


 <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://oklahomawatch.org/2015/02/19/prisoners-of-debt/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://oklahomawatch.org">Oklahoma Watch</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/okwatch-icon.png?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://oklahomawatch.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=3295&amp;ga4=G-6G6K9FYSH8" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p>