In Washington, district and municipal courts contract with debt collectors who can tack on additional fees of up to 100% of the original, court-imposed debt.
Over the past three years, Washington has spent an estimated $268 million to collect $123.5 million in revenue from fines, fees, and restitution – spending more than double what it recovers. Since nearly 80 percent of people who move through the criminal legal system live on low incomes, the authors draw into question the reliability of monetary sanctions as revenue mechanisms.
By far, the costliest aspect of collections is the cost of court hearings related to monetary sanctions – such as appeals or petitions to waive debt. The authors estimate Washington spends nearly $78 million per year on such cost hearings. The administrative expenses add up as well, with Washington’s superior courts and district courts spending around $11.6 million per year in administrative costs of collections.
The authors suggest that eliminating monetary sanctions could be a win-win for both governments and people: reducing administrative burdens and costs, and reducing financial instability for families and individuals who cannot afford to pay these sanctions.
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