Through the Black Family Thriving Initiative, Urban Institute seeks to build a deeper, more accurate understanding of what life is really like for Black Americans in the middle class through research and the collection of real life stories. By focusing on wealth rather than income, the initiative creates a new model for measuring quality of life that tells a more complete story.
As part of the first phase of the initiative’s work, Urban Institute released a brief highlighting how fines and fees undermine Black economic mobility. In the brief and accompanying video, the authors discuss how fines and fees inhibit Black Americans’ ability to move into and stay in the middle class, and research, revenue and policy changes to reduce harms and help Black families build wealth. Findings are based on qualitative interviews with criminal legal system experts and analysis of quantitative survey data from households that incurred criminal legal fines, fees, and outstanding debts in the Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey.
Research revealed that fines and fees are often imposed without regard to ability to pay, and Black households face criminal legal system fines and fees at the highest rates. Consequences for not being able to pay can be severe and disproportionately strain the well-being of Black households, jeopardizing their access to basic needs and disrupting their paths to financial stability and wealth-building.
Recommendations:
- Assess all people’s ability to pay, and waive fines, fees, and outstanding debts for those with limited means.
- Untether revenue-raising incentives from policing and court practices and replace them with general tax revenues.
- Eliminate certain administrative fees levied by courts and incarceration facilities.
- Offer robust community service, substance abuse treatment, and education or apprenticeship opportunities in lieu of imposing fines or fees.
Access the full brief and video here and here. Read more on the Black Family Thriving Initiative here.