Our guest speaker is Bryan Adamson, Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion and David L. and Ann Brennan Professor of Law at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland Ohio.

Professor Adamson will discuss the constitutionality of statutes which allow courts to transfer outstanding legal financial obligations to private debt collection agencies in this program entitled "Debt Bondage - How Legal Financial Obligations Become Life Sentences for the Formerly Incarcerated".

In Washington State, the clerk of courts can transfer the legal financial obligation of a formerly incarcerated person if he or she is only thirty days late making a payment.  Upon transfer, the debt collection agencies can assess a "collection fee" of up to 50% of the first $100,000 of the unpaid legal financial obligation, and up to 35% of the unpaid debt over $100,000.  This fee becomes part of the LFO debt imposed at sentencing, and like that debt, must also be paid in full.  Interest accrues at 12% per annum, there is no account for a LFO debtor's indigence or ability to pay, and the collection fee is not dischargeable in bankruptcy.  Not only do these collection fees further consign a formerly incarcerated person to a lifetime of poverty and exacerbate already-severe barriers to community re-entry, but they increase the risks for re-arrest and re-incarceration.  Equally troubling is that these fees extend the time during which an ex-offender is tethered to the criminal justice system.

Approved by the Alabama State Bar MCLE Commission for 1.0 hour MCLE Credit.

Registration fee:

• Current BBA Member  - Free (must sign in to member profile to register)
• NonMember - $20.00 (payable by credit card - Visa, MasterCard or Discover)
  

Meeting link will be forwarded to registrants approximately 24 hours prior to the seminar.