Media Archives - Page 4 of 7 - Fines and Fees Justice Center

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 …

Traffic Tickets Plunged in Florida. It May Mean Painful Budget Cuts for Many Services

Florida’s dependence on fines and fees revenue has led to budget cuts for many services as traffic tickets have plunged since March 2020. Revenue from mostly traffic tickets helps pay …

Trapped: Most States Let Courts Fine Teenagers. The Debt is Taking Down their Whole Families.

This article examines the use of hefty punishment fines and the impact of those fines, and fees, on families. The article highlights the story of a New Jersey teen locked …

What Do We Know About Community Service?

Host Matt Watkins of New Thinking interviewed Harry Glenn and James Brodick from the Center for Court Innovation (CCI) and Joanna Weiss from the Fines and Fees Justice Center about …

Personal Narrative: Tomia

Tomia, 42, of Rapid City, is on disability for a degenerative genetic condition and has custody of her 17-year-old son who is on the autism spectrum. She said her driver’s license has been suspended since 2017 because she owes the state $4,000.

Addicted to Fines: Small towns in much of the country are dangerously dependent on punitive fines and fees

This GOVERNING report presents the findings of a nationwide analysis of several jurisdictions' fine and fee revenue rates and how much of this funding source supports general budgets.

Digital Jail: How Electronic Monitoring Drives Defendants Into Debt

This article describes the fundamental issues with electronic monitoring by private companies through the experience a St. Louis, Missouri resident.

Chicago Ordinance 2018-8115: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 1 and 9 concerning general provisions of motor vehicle recovery of debt and vehicle impoundment.

In Chicago, Alderman Gilbert Villegas has introduced legislation that would reduce the burden of traffic fines and fees for low-income Chicago residents by providing alternatives to fines and fees and improving access to payment plans.