KCTV5 Investigations: Modern debtors’ prison

KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV) –

Trouble paying for a bed and computer did more than just hurt one man’s credit score.

He wound up in jail over the issue.

“I went to jail for missing a furniture payment,” James Davis tells KCTV5′s Stacey Cameron.

KCTV5′s Investigations Unit explored the issue after an overdue bill had sheriff’s deputies knocking on Davis’ door. KCTV5 looks at how the law allows businesses to collect unpaid bills using your tax dollars and local police officers even in this tough economy when millions are unemployed for months.

“They handcuffed me and shackled me,” Davis said.”It’s my understanding that debtors’ prisons were outlawed in the 1800s.”

Watch KCTV5 News at 10 p.m. Thursday for more on this investigation.

Copyright 2011 KCTV. All rights reserved.

Article source: http://www.kctv5.com/story/15882920/kctv5-investigations-modern-debtors-prison

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