Mother Dies in U.S. Debtor’s Prison

“Although she was often unkempt, she came to court clean and neat to surrender Friday. She had on clean sweatpants, had combed her hair, and had tape holding her glasses together.”~ Associated Press

eileenDiNinoIt goes without saying that Eileen DiNino of of Reading, PA had some mental health issues. How do I know? Simple deduction. First, she had seven children. That alone is enough to put a mother over the edge. When her children skipped school and were caught, they were taken to the police station and ordered to appear before a judge. All that paperwork and manpower costs money and parents like DiNino are expected to foot the bill. In the State of PA, bills that don’t get paid can send the debtor to prison. That’s what happened to Eileen DiNino.

According to news reports, truancy fines dated back to 1999 and totaled $2000, more than she could pay. The question that came before the court was whether she could actually pay. DiNino was being asked to prove documentation that she couldn’t in order to avoid jail time. She never did.

She was sentenced to two days in jail. According to the presiding judge, District Judge Dean R. Patton who originally felt the sentence was a good one, “She was a different person,”  on the day she appeared to begin her two day sentence. “She was cleaned up, smiling,” Patton said. “I think she realized, when this is done, the weight was off her shoulders.”

She probably felt like she was going on vacation. No cooking or cleaning for 48 hours and no one expected her to jump up for this or that. Before going any further into the story, it is important to question where the father or even fathers are in this tragic story. They are ever discussed.

Less than half way into her sentence, just 24 hours, DiNino was dead in her cell. “Her death is not suspicious, but the cause has not yet been determined, police said.”

How does her death not appear suspicious?

The firestorm on social media has been raised in part by Judge Patton who spent hours through the years trying to work with DiNino.

“Did something happen? Was she scared to death?” said District Judge Dean R. Patton

The “debtor’s prison sentence” would have wiped out DiNino’s debt.

According to the CBS story, “DiNino did not work or appear to have much help with four children still at home, according to Patton. She frequently skipped hearings, or arrived without requested documents. “She cared about her kids, but her kids ruled the roost,” Patton said. “She was just accepting what was coming, and (would) let the cards fall where they may.”‘

If DiNino had tested positive for drugs, there would have been an avenue to help her.  Depression or any other mental health issues go undiagnosed and an entire family suffers. The signs are all there for anyone to see. I’m not  a professional and I see it. Why was DiNino not provided help?

 

 

 

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