As the recession and Federal and state cutbacks hit localities, there is an increasing turn to close local budget gaps by jailing and adding fees on poor people for minor infractions.  As a recent New York Times article explains, this turn to private probation companies and Courts is having an impact on the poor in Alabama, Florida, and Texas, among other states.  

"Poor Land in Jail as Companies Add Huge Fees for Probation" by Ethan Bronner