By Daniel Walters

Published in The Inlander on January 14, 2016

“Each problem exacerbates the others. When felons leave jail, they’re often left with thousands of dollars of fines and court fees that keep increasing due to unpaid interest. Because they’re felons, they’re barred from getting licenses for jobs — like barber, dietitian, telephone salesman or commercial fisherman — that could help them begin to pay off those fees. Even the jobs they can apply for often ask them to check “felon” on their application, dooming their chance of getting an interview.”

Read more: From Prison to Olympia