95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

ACLU seeks order banning 'pay or stay' sentences in suburb

The American Civil Liberties Union says it has more evidence of a suburban Detroit judge sending people to jail for minor offenses if they can't immediately pay fines.

The ACLU's Michigan branch says Eastpointe Judge Carl Gerds III sent a man to jail for 60 days in July.

George Little couldn't afford to pay $1,200 for driving with a suspended license.
 
The ACLU says it's more proof of Gerds' "pay-or-stay" policy. The U.S. Supreme Court has said it's unconstitutional to send someone to jail because they're poor.
 
Gerds won't comment. A Macomb County judge in July stopped him from sending a woman to jail for dog license violations.
 
The ACLU is asking for a sweeping order to halt any future "pay or stay" sentences.

A hearing is set for Oct. 5.
 

Related Content