Sending someone to jail because they can’t pay a debt is against the law. But often courts in the United States imprison people who cannot pay court fines. For example, homeless people can be ticketed for sleeping in a park and then put into prison for not paying the fine. The city of Colorado Springs is stopping this practice. The city is also paying people who have previously been held in jail under these circumstances. Listen to hear more about this new policy and debate the pros and cons with your students.
Story Length: 3:30
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April 16, 2015
4:45
In most states when students miss or skip school their parents are called or the school intervenes. In Texas, students who have repeated absences are sent to court. Dallas County has an automated process that sends students to be tried in adult court after just three unexcused absences. The Department of Justice has been called in to investigate if the school system is violating the civil rights of students with the practice. Last year 20,000 truant students in Dallas County went to court. Listen to learn how this system works and how some students and communities are disproportionately affected.
Read MoreJanuary 13, 2014
8:01
50 years ago President Lyndon Johnson declared an “unconditional war on poverty in America.” The President and Congress created Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start and other programs for low-income Americans. But did we win the war on poverty? Listen to this story and then explore the question with your class.
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