[1] From my recollection of Disposable People: https://www.freetheslaves.net/sslpage.aspx?pid=348
Yes, it is. And contrary to the assertion of the article, this sort of thing happens pretty much in every town in the US.
If you owe the court money and you don't pay ... you'll be thrown in jail. Can't pay the fine? Jail. Behind on your alimony payments? Jail. The government always gets paid.
The worst part is that the people who get caught up in this are not exactly model citizens. Not exactly a clear case for sympathy.
Regardless, debtor prisons are barbaric, period.
That's assuming the court is obligated to evaluate the person's ability to pay. A person could be in the system for months or years before the court conducts an evaluation.
There have been numerous cases of actors whose child support obligations were set at the peak of their career and yet the CSA still expects them to be making the same money.
Are you saying you fail to sympathize with them because those people are poor?
The U.S. have a reputation of giving everyone the same chance to make their own fortune, regardless of status. When you're thrown into prison, unable to pay back the debt that got you there in the first place, this is like the opposite of that reputation. There's no way out.
Whatever happened to "Give me your tired, your poor?"
These people aren't in trouble because they're poor.
They're in trouble because they're criminals, mentally unstable, deadbeat dads, lazy, or just plain stupid.
They're the worst we have to offer as a society. Because they're the worst, it's very difficult to sympathize with them.
That said, debtor prisons are barbaric and they're barbaric even when applied to the worst elements. Even though these people are scum, they should not be treated this way!