Research Archives - Fines and Fees Justice Center

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 …

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. …

From Barriers to Bridges: How Fines and Fees Reform Can Help Boost Economic Security

In Georgia, fines and fees imposed by state and local governments in the criminal legal system are a barrier to economic security. This report by the Georgia Budget and Policy …

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 …

Five Facts about Fines and Fees Revenues

This brief summarizes the latest data from the US Census Bureau on where and to what extent places are relying on fine and fee revenue. Key Findings: Fiscal year 2022 …

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 …

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 …

Reforming the Shadow Carceral State

Pay-to-stay fees are daily costs imposed on currently or formerly incarcerated people to cover the costs of their own incarceration. Using the repeal of pay-to-stay fees in Illinois as a …

Improving Traffic Ticket Outcomes

Costly fines and fees from traffic citations disproportionately burden low income people with debt they cannot afford. To reduce the burden, California created MyCitations, an online ability-to-pay system. Between July …

Beyond Enforcement: Prioritizing Safety in Federal Transportation Funding

The Department of Transportation (DOT) provides grants for traffic safety measures, but its reporting requirements often prioritize enforcement metrics over strategies to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities. This white paper …