Court and Agency Rule Changes Archives - Fines and Fees Justice Center

Trial Court Administrative Order 22-3: Elimination of Monthly Probation Fees Imposed Pursuant to G.L. c. 276, § 87A

Effective July 1, 2022, Massachusetts eliminated monthly probation supervision fees, administrative probation fees, and victim services surcharges. Monthly probation fees assessed after the effective date will be remitted and paid …

Baltimore will no longer prosecute drug possession, prostitution, low-level crimes

The State’s Attorney’s Office made permanent its policy of declining to prosecute low-level offenses including minor traffic violations, first implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19 behind bars. Recently, the …

Suffolk County District Attorney Declines to Prosecute Low Level Offenses

The Suffolk County District Attorney implemented a policy of presumptively dismissing, or diverting and treating as a civil infraction, certain charges including operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked …

Dallas County Drops Jail Phone Call Cost to $.01 per Minute

Dallas County commissioners voted to reduce the cost of jail phone calls to 1 cent per minute. The new rate is a 95% reduction in costs, making it the lowest …

Seattle Discretionary Fines and Fees Rule Change

Seattle Municipal Court judges voted unanimously to eliminate all discretionary fines and fees imposed in criminal cases. Judges recognize the financial harms caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to …

COVID-19 Crisis: FFJC Policy Recommendations and Policy Tracker

FFJC has released a set of policy recommendations to help stem the harms of this ongoing public health and economic crisis. This page also tracks state and local fines and fees reform efforts undertaken in response to coronavirus.

Shelby County District Attorney declines to prosecute driving on a suspended license where underlying suspension is for unpaid fines and fees

After experimenting with this policy for about two months, Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich has permanently adopted a policy of declining to prosecute driving on a suspended license in cases where the license was suspended or revoked for nonpayment of fines and fees.

Philadelphia Rule of Criminal Procedure 528: Ten Percent (10%) Deposit of Bail.

Since the 1970s, Philadelphia Rule of Criminal Procedure 528 allowed courts to keep 3% of total bail posted by defendants, even if they appeared at all hearings required by their bail bond. This October amendment ensures that defendants will receive 100% of their posted bail after their case is closed.

Davidson County District Attorney declines to prosecute driving on a suspended license where underlying suspension is for unpaid fines and fees

In Tennessee, Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk announced that he will stop prosecuting driver's license violations that result from failure to pay fines and fees, such as driving on a suspended license. His office predicts that this policy change could keep 12,000 charges out of Nashville courtrooms over the next year.

Texas prison system reduces cost of phone calls by 77 percent

During the summer of 2018, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice voted to reduce the price of phone calls made from Texas prisons. Previously, incarcerated people paid an average of $0.26 per minute to call their loved ones; now the rate is $0.06 per minute, and the time limit for calls was increased from 20 to 30 minutes.