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State-By-State Court Fees

A national survey conducted by NPR identified the states that charge people fees for electronic monitoring, probation or supervision, public defender or legal costs, and room and board. The survey also identified the jurisdictions that have increased civil and criminal fees since 2010. A chart was produced to show these findings. 

You can find the chart here

Key findings

  • Based on data collected between 2010 and 2014, 21 states increased civil or criminal fees and charged costs for electronic monitoring, probation or supervision, public defender or legal costs, and room and board. 
  • The District of Columbia is the single jurisdiction that was found to charge only one of the types of costs that were surveyed: public defender/legal costs.  
  • 48 states have increased their civil or criminal court fees since 2010.
  • 44 states charge people fees for probation and supervision.
  • 43 states charge fees for public defender or legal costs.
Emma Anderson, Alyson Hurt, and Joseph Shapiro
NPR
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