The Ohio Supreme Court has reminded judges that conditions are limited under which they can jail an offender for failure to pay fines.

The Ohio Supreme Court has reminded judges that conditions are limited under which they can jail an offender for failure to pay fines.

A brochure distributed to all state judges follows a report last year that said several Ohio courts are illegally jailing people because they are too poor to pay their debts.

The report by the Ohio chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union also found that judges often deny defendants a hearing to determine whether they�re financially capable of paying what they owe.

Ohio law permits judges to jail people for refusing to pay fines only if they are financially able to pay and only after a hearing.