I understand the courts sentence several thousand of people to probation and place them under the supervision of for-profit companies for months or years at a time. They then require probationers to pay these companies for their services. Many of these offenders are only guilty of minor traffic violations like speeding or driving without proof of insurance. Others have shoplifted, been cited for public drunkenness. Many of these offenses have no real threat of jail time, yet each month, courts issue thousands of arrest warrants for offenders who fail to make payments towards fines and probation company fees. So yes it is ethical for think that private probation companies that are offender-funded are ethical. According the article. Cleveland’s
