Interviewees with minor children struggled to prioritize essential expenses such as housing, food, daycare, and transportation.
The impacts of monetary sanctions extend far beyond those directly receiving them, often burdening families and entire communities. But unlike the well-documented effects of incarceration, the intergenerational consequences of court-imposed fines and fees remain largely understudied. Using an analysis of interviews with 70 individuals subjected to court-imposed monetary sanctions, this study explores the financial and emotional strains experienced by these individuals and their families, mainly focusing on their parents and children. The results indicate that fines and fees debt appear to conflict with participants’ attempts to be parents and providers, and fulfill adult roles and responsibilities. Many interviewees with minor children reported significant stress in prioritizing basic needs over their outstanding financial obligations. They also described feelings of perceived anger and frustration from family members who assist them financially.
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Key Findings:
- Most interviewees earned less than $1,500 per month and half were unemployed.
- Adults who received parental assistance to pay monetary sanctions often described increased strain and anger in those relationships.
- Half of the interviewees were financially responsible for minor children.