Frank Macias walked out of a Nevada prison with $25 in his pocket after serving nearly 18 years, only to receive a letter weeks later demanding he pay back over $7,000 in medical debt from a broken wrist injury sustained behind bars. Rather than accept this burden quietly, Macias helped push legislation that cancels the medical debt formerly incarcerated people owe to ensure no one else leaves prison with medical debt that hampers their ability to successfully reintegrate into society.
In collaboration with state Sen. Melanie Scheible and organizations including the Fines and Fees Justice Center and Return Strong Nevada, Macias helped pass Senate Bill 88. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Gov. Joe Lombardo approved the bill June 10, representing a significant victory for criminal justice reform advocates who have long argued that saddling newly released individuals with debt undermines successful reintegration into society.
The Personal Stakes Behind the Policy
For Macias, now 47 and working as a paralegal trainee at LJU Law Firm in Las Vegas, the fight was deeply personal. As reported by Nevada Current, Macias saved up $400 in prison, an already small amount to begin anew, but medical debt swallowed all but $25 right before he was released. He told state lawmakers he was essentially told "here's $25 you can start your life over with. We're taking the rest out of your account and well, good luck."
The debt originated from when Macias broke his wrist while incarcerated and was sent to a medical facility in Ely for care. The doctor instructed him to come back in two weeks after the swelling went down to properly put a cast on his wrist. However, treatment was delayed, and he did not return to the hospital for about three and a half weeks.
A System That Collected Little but Hurt Many
According to data from Nevada Current, there is about $13 million in outstanding debt currently owed by formerly incarcerated individuals released from Nevada prisons. Yet in the last two years, the Nevada Department of Corrections managed to collect only $6,000 each year while spending about that much attempting to collect the debt, making only $175 in profit last year.
Nick Shepack of the Nevada Fines and Fees Justice Center noted it is almost impossible for formerly incarcerated individuals to legally pay that debt back in the required time frame. When they can't pay the debt, it goes to collections, where individuals are charged interest and additional fees, hurting their credit. "These are individuals who are just starting to rebuild their lives, and then one of the first things they receive is a threatening letter from the place that they just left, and the debt just balloons," he explained.
Broader Context of Prison Healthcare Issues
The medical debt legislation comes amid broader concerns about healthcare quality in Nevada's prison system. Recent high-profile cases have highlighted systemic problems, with This Is Reno reporting that inmate Nicolai Mork was awarded $4.4 million after suing Nevada Department of Corrections for denying him medical treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, as detailed by The Nevada Independent, Nevada will pay $3.4 million as a legal settlement to a man formerly incarcerated at the Southern Desert Correctional Center who said he received inadequate medical treatment for years that led to long-term health issues.
Legislative Victory and Future Impact
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the Senate passed the bill mostly on party lines, while the Assembly passed it unanimously with three members excused. The bill didn't receive any opposition, and even Nevada Department of Corrections Director James Dzurenda told lawmakers the department's official position on the bill is neutral, but he agreed that when incarcerated people leave prison with medical debt it obstructs the corrections system's goal of preventing recidivism.
The legislation includes provisions for retroactive debt relief, meaning individuals like Macias who were released before the law's passage will also benefit from the canceled existing and future debt.
Support System Critical to Success
Macias credits his successful transition to a strong support network, receiving support through his family as well as organizations like Return Strong and the Second Chance program, which aims to reduce recidivism and connect formerly incarcerated individuals with jobs. However, he emphasizes that not everyone has such advantages: "but I know many individuals in prison that don't have a single soul to help them."
Macias spent his time in prison earning his paralegal license, working out, reading books, and educating himself on Nevada law. Jodi Hocking, founder and executive director of Return Strong, met Macias four or five years ago when he was one of the first people inside prison that her organization started working with. He helped organize drives and communicated issues and concerns happening inside prison.
As Hocking explained, the law represents more than just debt forgiveness: "I think if we want people to come home from prison and do well, we need to remove barriers that interfere in their ability to assimilate back into our communities. It's not about absolving them from their responsibilities." For Macias, who transformed from someone carrying crushing debt to an advocate who helped change the system, the law ensures that others won't face the same obstacles he did when trying to rebuild their lives after incarceration.
