Adults aged 50+ with no recent court involvement receive higher LFO sentences than their counterparts with recent court histories.
Researchers have historically overlooked how aging populations experience non-carceral sanctions, such as fines and fees, within the criminal legal system. This study examines how aging (50–64) and older (65+) adults are affected by legal financial obligations (LFOs) stemming from traffic-related charges in Washington State’s lower courts. Using a dataset of nearly one million traffic-related charges filed between 1990 and 2020, the authors analyze trends and disparities in LFO sentencing across age groups. The study finds that while adults aged 50 and older still account for a minority of total traffic charges, their share has increased markedly, outpacing their population growth. The authors observe that while these adults are often assessed lower fines for minor infractions, they tend to receive higher LFO amounts than younger adults when convicted of more serious and gross misdemeanors. Additionally, aging and older adults with no recent history of court involvement receive higher financial penalties than those with prior system contact, a finding the authors suggest may reflect judicial assumptions about deterring first-time older offenders. The study also finds that increases in LFO amounts over time are partly linked to legislative and administrative changes that raised the baseline cost of many traffic offenses. These rising fines may pose particular hardship for aging adults, who are more likely to have fixed incomes, health-related limitations, and reduced mobility. The study concludes that age-related disparities in financial sentencing merit closer examination and calls for greater integration of aging populations into research on criminal legal sanctions.
You can read the full text here.
Key Findings:
- In 2020, adults aged 50+ accounted for 16 percent of traffic-related charges in Washington’s lower courts, up from 3.4 percent in 1990.
- Aging adults (50–64) and older adults (65+) receive lower fines for infractions, but higher fines for misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors than younger adults.
- Fines and fees for traffic-related convictions have increased significantly across all age groups since 1990.