Fines and Fees Justice Center, Author at Fines and Fees Justice Center

New Study Shows High Cost of Florida’s Hidden Taxes on Children

New Study Shows High Cost of Florida’s Hidden Taxes on Children First-Of-Its-Kind Statewide Research Reveals How Fees Increase Recidivism and Trap Families in Debt A new study led by a …

Press Release: New Nevada Law Decriminalizing Minor Traffic Violations Takes Effect January 1

January 1: New Law to Decriminalize Minor Traffic Violations Takes Effect Long-Sought Reform Will End Widespread Practice of Arresting & Jailing People Who Can’t Afford a Minor Traffic Ticket On …

New Report Uncovers Hidden Tax on Justice in Nearly All 50 States

Today, the Fines and Fees Justice Center (FFJC) is releasing Assessments and Surcharges: A 50-State Survey of Supplemental Fees. Examining statutes and rules from all 50 states and D.C, this new report uncovers a system of hidden taxes that are assessed in nearly every criminal, traffic or local ordinance case. They fund not only the justice system, but other government programs — ranging from autism research to independent living programs to state and municipal general funds.

Using Behavioral Science To Create User-Friendly “Ability-To-Pay” Tools

By Shanelle Johnson, FFJC Senior Policy Counsel What does it mean to ask the question, can a person afford to pay the fines and fees assessed by the court? Many …

National Campaign to Eliminate Justice System Fees Launches Today

National Campaign to Eliminate Justice System Fees Launches Today New poll reveals 62% of U.S. voters support fee elimination Today, a bipartisan coalition spearheaded by the Fines and Fees Justice …

Press Release: New Report Sheds Light on Murky World of Electronic Monitoring Fees

New Report Sheds Light on Murky World of Electronic Monitoring Fees 1st-of-Its-Kind National Examination Reveals Widespread Imposition of Electronic Monitoring Fees Across U.S. Momentum to Eliminate Justice Fees Growing Among …

Press Release: Santa Fe City Council Approves Ordinance Limiting Debt-Based Driver’s License Suspensions

Santa Fe City Council Approves Ordinance Limiting Debt-Based Driver’s License Suspensions Councilors Urge State Lawmakers to Reach Statewide Fix Santa Fe – The Santa Fe City Council unanimously approved a …

Gov. DeSantis Signs Bill Increasing Access to Payment Plans for Fines and Fees

Governor DeSantis Signs Bill Increasing Access to Payment Plans for Fines and Fees With Bipartisan Support in Florida’s Legislature, New Law Will Increase Revenue and Keep Safe Drivers on the …

FFJC Op-Ed: Policing-for-Profit Undermines Public Safety. This Town Shows A Better Way.

FFJC Op-Ed: Policing-for-Profit Undermines Public Safety. This Town Shows A Better Way. By Chief James Small (police chief and public safety director of Palmyra, Wisconsin) and Joanna Weiss, co-director of …

FFJC Op-Ed in CNN: Alabama scandal shines national spotlight on taxation-by-citation

By Leah Nelson (research director at the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice) and Priya Sarathy Jones, national policy and campaigns director at the Fines and Fees Justice Center. Since news broke last …