Published: January 10, 2019

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN RUTHERFORD COUNTY WILL RECEIVE CHECKS THIS WEEK FROM A 2015 FEDERAL LAWSUIT THAT LED TO THE REFORMING  OF THE COUNTY'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE LAWSUIT CLAIMED THAT RUTHERFORD COUNTY AND PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS OR PCC EXTORTED MONEY FROM THE POOR BY CHARGING FEES TO THOSE CONVICTED OF MISDEMEANOR CRIMES.  IN 2017, RUTHERFORD COUNTY AGREED TO END ITS USE OF PRIVATE, FOR-PROFIT PROBATION COMPANIES, AND PCC AGREED TO PAY $14 MILLION TO SETTLE THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.  MORE THAN 25,000 PEOPLE WERE ELIGIBLE TO GET REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENTS THEY MADE, OF WHICH 9000 PEOPLE SIGNED UP BEFORE THE DEADLINE.  THE SETTLEMENT CHECKS RANGE FROM AROUND $100 TO NEARLY $10,000 DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH MONEY A PERSON PAID TO PCC WHILE ON PROBATION.  CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS HAS FILED OTHER LAWSUITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING ONE IN GILES COUNTY THAT WAS FILED IN APRIL LAST YEAR. GILES COUNTY AND TWO PRIVATE PROBATION COMPANIES, PSI PROBATION AND COMMUNITY PROBATION SERVICES, ARE ACCUSED OF TRYING TO  EXTORT MONEY FROM THE POOR AS WELL.  FIVE PEOPLE ARE NAMED IN THE LAWSUIT CLAIMING THEY HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY JAILED FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY.  ATTORNEY ELIZABETH ROSSI WITH CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS HOPES FOR A SIMILAR RESOLUTION IN THIS CASE TO BRING CLOSURE TO FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED IN GILES COUNTY. THAT CASE IS STILL IN FEDERAL COURT.