New to Clearinghouse Archives - Page 9 of 17 - Fines and Fees Justice Center

New Mexico HB 139: Eliminating Court Fees

The New Mexico Legislature approved a bill eliminating post-adjudication and bench warrant fees. The legislation also expands the definition of community service to encourage participation in job training, academic or …

New Mexico SB 47: Driver’s License Suspension Penalties

The New Mexico legislature passed a bill eliminating suspensions for failure to pay and failure to appear. The bill also requires the automatic reinstatement of licenses suspended solely for failure …

The impact of county-level fees & fines as exploitative revenue generation on US birth outcomes

In this study, researchers hypothesize that structural racism in the reliance on fines and fees becomes embodied, increasing the risk of preterm birth and low birthweight. Using 2012 Census of …

Roberts Webb et al. v. City of Maplewood

On March 6, 2023, a federal judge approved a $3.25 million settlement in this class-action lawsuit brought against the City of Maplewood, Missouri. The suit alleged that the City regularly …

The Failed Promise of Installment Fines

When the Supreme Court reaffirmed, in 1970, that it was unconstitutional to incarcerate someone who is unable to pay a court fine or fee, it suggested that payment plans could …

SMH: The Rapid & Unregulated Growth of E‑messaging in Prisons

Text-based electronic messaging or “e-massaging,” not to be confused with emailing, has exploded in the past decade. At least 43 state prison systems and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) …

Punishing the Poor: An Assessment of the Administration of Fines and Fees in New Mexico Misdemeanor Courts

Low-income people in New Mexico accused of minor crimes are often caught in a vicious cycle where they are jailed because they can’t afford to pay monetary sanctions. In 2018, …

State Strategies to Address the Needs of Justice-Involved Youth Impacted by Collateral Consequences

Collateral consequences refers to the adverse effects resulting from an interaction with the justice system. Even youth with the lowest level of engagement with the system face collateral consequences that …

Report to the Legislature: Online Infraction Adjudication and Ability-to-Pay Determinations

This report uses data from California courts that have adopted the MyCitations tool to evaluate the pilot program. As of January 1, 2023, over 66,000 ability-to-pay requests were submitted through …

Stepping on the Gas: Accelerating Florida’s Growth by Restoring the Freedom to Drive

Introduction If you’re a hard-working, safe driver who’s struggling to make a fine or fee payment, Florida can take your license and, with it, your ability to drive and work. …