Recommended Archives - Fines and Fees Justice Center

Imposing Instability: How Court Fines and Fees Destabilize Government Budgets and Criminalize Those Who Cannot Pay

In a first-of-its-kind report, the Fines and Fees Justice Center looks at the amount of criminal, juvenile, municipal, and traffic fines and fees imposed by courts nationwide and compares those …

Paying for One’s Own Incarceration: National Landscape of Pay to Stay Fees

Pay-to-stay fees, also referred to as costs of incarceration, cost of care, cost of support, or room and board, are the costs charged to individuals for their incarceration. They may …

Impact of Debt-Based License Suspension Reform on Statewide Employment

Millions of drivers have had their licenses suspended for unpaid traffic, toll, misdemeanor and felony fines and fees, often impacting their ability to earn. In this study, researchers looked at …

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

MyCitations was developed and is maintained by the Judicial Council of California as an online tool to allow individuals with infraction violations to request a reduction in their fines and …

Paying for the Right to Counsel: National Survey Findings on the Practice of Charging Public Defense Fees to Clients

The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel, and the Supreme Court has held that the Sixth Amendment requires states to provide a lawyer if a defendant cannot afford one. …

The Public Harm Under a For-Profit Probation System: Spotlight on Augusta

In Georgia, traffic and minor offenses often carry fines and fees that many residents cannot afford to pay upfront, which may result in being placed on “pay-only” misdemeanor probation under …

Fair Warnings: Recommendations to Promote Equity in Speed Safety Camera Programs

Speed safety cameras are widely used internationally and in more than 240 communities in the United States as a traffic safety strategy. When well designed, operated, and monitored they can …

Legal Financial Obligations in Washington’s Courts: Final Report to the Legislature

Funded by a 2023 budget bill the Washington State Center for Court Research was tasked to study the state’s system of legal financial obligations (LFOs), this report analyzes the imposition, …

McGrath v. Suffolk County

Issue Whether Suffolk County’s imposition of administrative fees on red light camera violations exceeding the state statutory cap of $50 per violation (or $75 with a late fee) is preempted …

Failure to Pay The Use of Debt-Based Carceral Sanctions and Warrants in Wisconsin’s Municipal Courts

Although municipal courts in Wisconsin do not enforce criminal penalties, many order the arrest and jailing of people for debt-based sanctions. Municipal courts use writs of commitment to authorize the …