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§ 16. Imprisonment for debt. No person shall be imprisoned for debt, except in cases of fraud.

History: Adopted by convention, July 29, 1859; ratified by electors, October 4, 1859; L. 1861, p. 49.

Law Review and Bar Journal References:

"Criminal Nonsupport Of A Child: Father Figure v. Felon Figure," Linda Barnes-Pointer and Mitchell B. Taylor, J.K.T.L.A. Vol. 18, No. 6, 12, 13 (1995).

CASE ANNOTATIONS

1. Act authorizing arrest and imprisonment on plaintiff's affidavit alone, unconstitutional. In re Roberts, Petitioner, 4 Kan. App. 292, 296, 45 P. 942.

2. Garnishee cannot be imprisoned for failure to pay his debt. Board of Education v. Scoville, 13 Kan. 17, 33.

3. Prosecuting witness in misdemeanors, certain cases, imprisoned till costs paid. In re John Ebenhack, Petitioner, 17 Kan. 618, 622.

4. Bond given when debtor only in custody, held valid. Doyle v. Boyle, 19 Kan. 168, 172.

5. Fraud must be clearly shown to sustain imprisonment for debt. Tennent, Walker & Co. v. Weymouth, 25 Kan. 21, 22, 23.

6. Affidavit must show grounds provided for arrest or proceedings void. Hauss v. Kohlar, 25 Kan. 640, 644.

7. Bill of rights not mere collection of glittering generalities. Atchison Street Rly. Co. v. Mo. Pac. Rly. Co., 31 Kan. 660, 665, 3 P. 284.

8. In proceedings in aid of execution, court may imprison for contempt. In re Burrows, Petitioner, 33 Kan. 675, 677, 680, 7 P. 148.

9. Section applies only to liabilities arising upon contract. In re Wheeler, Petitioner, 34 Kan. 96, 8 P. 276.

10. Imprisonment for failure to pay costs, not imprisonment for debt. In re Boyd, Petitioner, 34 Kan. 570, 572, 574, 9 P. 240.

11. Imprisonment for failure to pay road tax does not violate. In re Dassler, Petitioner, 35 Kan. 678, 12 P. 130.

12. Execution against person of judgment debtor not forbidden by section. In re Heath, Petitioner, 40 Kan. 333, 337, 19 P. 926.

13. Section would not compel Legislature to imprison for fraudulent debt. The State v. Weiss, 84 Kan. 165, 168, 113 P. 388.

14. Arrest of judgment debtor; wrongful imprisonment in jail. Haglund v. Bank, 100 Kan. 279, 284, 164 P. 167.

15. Execution against the person; fraud; statute constitutional. Tatlow v. Bacon, 101 Kan. 26, 29, 165 P. 835.

16. Bulk-sales law constitutional; valid exercise of police power. Burnett v. Trimmell, 103 Kan. 130, 173 P. 6.

17. Worthless check act (K.S.A. 21-554 through 21-556) does not violate. Windle v. Wire, 179 Kan. 239, 241, 294 P.2d 213.

18. Prohibits arrest and imprisonment of surety on recognizance bond as method of collecting on forfeiture. City of Westwood v. Holland, 193 Kan. 375, 377, 378, 394 P.2d 56.

19. Constitutionality of worthless check statute (K.S.A. 21-3707) upheld; imprisonment thereunder is for fraud. State v. Haremza, 213 Kan. 201, 202, 209, 515 P.2d 1217.

20. Conviction of theft; evidence not product of illegal search and seizure. State v. Hubbard, 215 Kan. 42, 46, 523 P.2d 387.

21. Conviction under K.S.A. 36-206 reversed; no fraud proven; imprisonment for debt except for fraud prohibited hereunder. State v. Harris, 6 Kan. App. 2d 721, 723, 633 P.2d 1171 (1981).

22. Imprisonment for violation of K.S.A. 21-3707 not violative hereof. State v. Yost, 232 Kan. 370, 373, 374, 654 P.2d 458 (1982).

23. K.S.A. 21-3734(1)(c) (impairing security interest) does not violate prohibition against imprisonment for debt. State v. Jones, 241 Kan. 627, 739 P.2d 933 (1987).

24. Imprisonment does not violate constitution where debtor intends to deprive creditor of creditor's own money (K.S.A. 21-3734(1)(c)). State v. Jones, 242 Kan. 385, 390, 748 P.2d 839 (1988).

25. Court-ordered alimony can be enforced by an attachment for contempt and imprisonment. Dozier v. Dozier, 252 Kan. 1035, 1038, 850 P.2d 789 (1993).

26. Imprisonment for nonsupport of child is not imprisonment for debt or for an obligation arising on contract. State v. Krumroy, 22 Kan. App. 2d 794, 923 P.2d 1044 (1996).

27. District court had no jurisdiction to release city prisoners being held in county jail. In re Administration of Justice in the 18th Judicial District, 269 Kan. 865, 9 P.3d 28 (2000).

28. Cited; provisions of K.S.A. 22-4529 relating to applications for appointed counsel in criminal cases held constitutional. State v. Casady, 40 Kan. App. 2d 335, 341, 191 P.3d 1130 (2008).

29. Collected and unremitted sales tax is not a debt between retailers and the state within the meaning of § 16 of the Kansas Bill of Rights. State v. Ruiz, 317 Kan. 669, 681, 538 P.3d 828 (2023).

Attorney General's Opinions:

Crimes against property; giving a worthless check. 79-16.

Liens of hotels and lodging housekeepers; applicability of defrauding an innkeeper statute to tenants. 88-82.