Woman jailed 6 days for library fines

[Kat Kanning]

Woman Jailed For Failing To Return Books
Family Can't Afford Fine; Woman Spends 6 Days In Jail

POSTED: 1:34 pm CST March 2, 2008
UPDATED: 1:40 pm CST March 2, 2008
BELOIT, Wis. -- In Beloit, failing to return overdue library books is apparently a serious offense. It landed Keely Givhan behind bars for six days.

Beloit Public Library director Dan Zack said when books aren't returned, the library sends three overdue notices. After the third notice, a citation is sent that could include court date.

Givhan said she was in the process of moving so she never got the notices.

When a police officer pulled her over for a traffic violation in November, the officer found out about her outstanding warrant and took her to jail.

She and her family couldn't afford to pay her fine so she remained in jail for six days.

Beloit police Capt. Bill Tyler said he knows this case could sound like an overreaction. But he said a municipal fine is a municipal fine, and failure to pay for any reason can result in an arrest warrant being issued.

http://www.channel3000.com/news/15466146/detail.html

[Lloyd Danforth]

So..............how many books could be purchased for what it cost to feed and house her for 6 days.

[Free libertarian]

...did they let her take out any books from the jail library?

[Raineyrocks]

Woman Jailed For Failing To Return Books
Family Can't Afford Fine; Woman Spends 6 Days In Jail

POSTED: 1:34 pm CST March 2, 2008
UPDATED: 1:40 pm CST March 2, 2008
BELOIT, Wis. -- In Beloit, failing to return overdue library books is apparently a serious offense. It landed Keely Givhan behind bars for six days.

Beloit Public Library director Dan Zack said when books aren't returned, the library sends three overdue notices. After the third notice, a citation is sent that could include court date.

Givhan said she was in the process of moving so she never got the notices.

When a police officer pulled her over for a traffic violation in November, the officer found out about her outstanding warrant and took her to jail.

She and her family couldn't afford to pay her fine so she remained in jail for six days.

Beloit police Capt. Bill Tyler said he knows this case could sound like an overreaction. But he said a municipal fine is a municipal fine, and failure to pay for any reason can result in an arrest warrant being issued.

http://www.channel3000.com/news/15466146/detail.html

Unbelievable!  I guess there's nothing better to do than come and arrest library violators!

[Raineyrocks]

...did they let her take out any books from the jail library?

That would be irony at it's high point!  If they did I hope she takes them home with her, oh wait, no!  She'll end up in prison for 60 years for that offense!

[Raineyrocks]

So..............how many books could be purchased for what it cost to feed and house her for 6 days.

Good point!

[Pat K]

"Beloit police Capt. Bill Tyler said he knows this case could sound like an overreaction. But he said a municipal fine is a municipal fine, and failure to pay for any reason can result in an arrest warrant being issued."


Just doing their jobs.