Recommended Archives - Fines and Fees Justice Center

Heavy Burdens: The Weight of Juvenile Fees and Fines in the Keystone State

In Pennsylvania, youth involved in the juvenile justice system courts and their families may be held financially liable for costs related to formal adjustments, summons, warrants, and the cost of …

Fines, Fees, and Financial Strain: Challenges for State and Local Governments in a Time of Fiscal Uncertainty

Though utilized as a routine source of revenue for many state and local governments, increasing reliance on fines and fees to fill budget gaps and raise additional revenue as a …

Equity In Enforcement Working Group: Report of Recommendation 2025

In January 2025, Chicago’s City Council passed a resolution establishing an Equity in Enforcement Working Group tasked with developing recommendations for moving Chicago toward a more equitable and effective system …

The Hidden Cost of Compliance: Exploring How Fees Influence Correctional Interventions and Probation Outcomes

Intervention fees or programming fees for mandated services, such as drug testing and treatment, mental health services, class or program participation, community service, or electronic monitoring, are an obstacle to …

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 …

The Hidden Web of Criminal Legal System Fines and Fees in Kentucky

Kentucky’s criminal legal system is made up of a complicated network of fines and fees that can be difficult to navigate and lead to devastating consequences for Kentuckians who are …

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. …