Adults unable to pay court or incarceration-related fines and fees on time faced serious consequences: 28 percent were charged additional fines, 24 percent had their driver’s licenses suspended, and 19 percent served jail time.
Fines and fees, imposed at every level of the criminal legal system, significantly affect the well-being of families. Using data from the Urban Institute’s 2023 Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey, this report examines adults aged 18 to 64 who have incurred fines and fees in the past 12 months or are delinquent in previous years. Their analysis found that one in six adults reported their households incurred fines and fees, primarily from traffic and parking tickets. Those with court or incarceration-related fines faced higher charges, greater financial strain, and a higher likelihood of adverse consequences for being unable to pay. The report compares the socioeconomic characteristics of those who incur fines and fees and examines the consequences of unpaid fines, particularly between traffic/parking tickets and court/incarceration-related fines. It concludes with recommendations for stakeholders to mitigate the harmful effects of fines and fees on families’ economic security and overall well-being.
You can read the full text here.
Key Findings:
- 55 percent of adults who incurred court or incarceration-related costs were charged $500 or more.
- Black and Latine adults reported being charged or owing money for fines and fees at higher rates (20 percent and 22 percent, respectively) than white adults (15 percent).
- People with court or incarceration-related costs were most likely to experience difficulty affording health care (58 percent), experience food insecurity (57 percent), and have problems paying their rent or mortgage (29 percent).
- 24 percent of adults who reported court or incarceration-related fines and fees had their driver’s licenses suspended, and nearly 20 percent reported they or a household member served time in jail for being unable to pay fines and fees.
Recommendations:
- Eliminate fees and their respective debts.
- Remedy racial disparities in law enforcement and court practices and their outcomes.
- Fund the criminal legal system through general revenue.
- Conduct ability-to-pay assessments before imposing fines.
- Provide payment alternatives such as community service or payment plans.