June 14, 2024 1 min read

Letter to Sen. Fetterman Addressing the Burden of Junk Fees on Incarcerated Individuals and Their Families

CFA TC

Adam Rust, Director of Financial Services at the Consumer Federation of America issued the following letter to Senator John Fetterman. The letter discusses the predatory financial burdens imposed on incarcerated individuals and their families, focusing on the high fees attached to essential services and financial transactions. Rust highlights the exploitation through "junk fees" at various stages of the justice process, including the issuance of prepaid debit "release cards" with high fees upon release from incarceration. He advocates for regulatory reforms to eliminate these burdens and suggests specific legislative actions to alleviate financial pressures, aiming to enhance rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.

Related Articles

CFA TC
February 11, 2026 / Press Releases
Over 170 Organizations Join Broad Coalition Supporting New Senate Bill to Cap Interest Rates for Loans
CFA TC
October 09, 2025 / Press Releases
Today's Economic Deregulation Repeats the Faults of the 2008 Financial Crisis
CFA TC
October 09, 2025 / Reports
The United States of Amnesia: Forgotten Lessons from the 2008 Financial Crisis
CFA TC
September 24, 2025 / Press Releases
CFPB Must Supervise Auto Finance, Debt Collection, Credit Reporting, and International Remittance Industries