March 30, 2004

3:15 AM

On behalf of a friend: when did the US close the last debtor's prison?
Google has been no help at all, and since I'm not from the US, I don't have access to any US-specific libraries or resources or anything. Any help?
posted by sailoreagle to (2 comments total)

The Bankruptcy Act of 1841 eliminated imprisonment of debtors in all states, although some states (and the federal government) did away with it earlier. Google has more.
posted by blue mustard at 4:15 AM on March 30, 2004

Many thanks, just what my friend was looking for :)
posted by sailoreagle at 12:32 PM on March 30, 2004