Louisiana’s cash-strapped court system relies heavily on fines and fees imposed on defendants to make up for the lack of financial support from city and state government. These ‘user fees’ disproportionately affect low-income individuals, who too often end up in jail because of an inability to pay.
Number of the Day
$29,426 - Annual wage gap for a black woman employed full-time, year round in Louisiana compared to her white, male counterpart. (Source: National Partnership for Women & Families)
