Valley Brook Agrees to Stop Jailing People Who Can't Pay Fines, in Settlement

Lisa Swaminathan, Pro Bono Counsel at Ballard Spahr, spoke with KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City about the Town of Valley Brook, Oklahoma, agreeing to cease unlawful practices that amounted to a debtor's prison for people who couldn't pay fines, such as traffic tickets. Lisa and Litigation Department Chair Jason Leckerman worked in partnership with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to reach a favorable settlement to a lawsuit against the Town.

“The problem is that you can’t incarcerate people simply because they can’t pay an assessed cost,” she said. “The town of Valley Brook was known for operating a speed trap, and when people couldn’t pay, the police would then haul them into the county jail.”

See the full article and video here.