Research Archives - Page 4 of 42 - Fines and Fees Justice Center

Can’t Afford an Attorney? Virginia Law Tells Poor People To Pay Anyway

The U.S. Constitution requires that the government ensures people can have an attorney if accused of criminal charges that can draw jail time. In Virginia, a defendant with a very …

Locked Out: How DC Bans Workers with Unpaid Fines from More than 125 Jobs or Starting a Business, and What We Can Do About It

Under DC’s Clean Hands Law, residents can be automatically denied occupational and small business licenses if they owe the District more than $100 in unpaid fines, fees or taxes. This …

Fines & Fees Collection and Enforcement In Wilmington, Delaware: Gains and Costs

Wilmington, Delaware, with a predominantly Black population, experiences a poverty rate surpassing the state average. Criticism has been directed at the city for its ticketing and booting practices, raising concerns …

Victim Experiences With Restitution and Compensation

Victims of crimes in Arizona seeking restitution and compensation can often have difficulty navigating the system, encountering issues related to eligibility and allowable costs, administrative burdens, and multi-jurisdictional conflicts. Based …

Gideon at 60: A Snapshot of State Public Defense Systems and Paths To System Reform

In 1963, Gideon v. Wainwright established the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel for indigent persons charged with felonies, which would later extend to misdemeanors and delinquency proceedings in juvenile court. …

Access to Justice Spotlight: Fines & Fees

In April 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Office of Justice Programs, and Office for Access to Justice issued a revised Dear Colleague Letter, which detailed seven …

Waiving Criminal Court Fees Prevents Harms of Civil Debt

North Carolina law allows judges to order the conversion of financial obligations to civil judgments. Although doing this may protect justice-involved people from driver’s license suspensions, an extension of probation, …

Forgotten But Not Gone: A Multi-State Analysis of Modern-Day Debt Imprisonment

The majority of states allow imprisonment as a direct result of failing to pay (FTP) court debt. This report presents findings from a three-state case study that sought to estimate the prevalence …

The Government Revenue, Recidivism, and Financial Health Effects of Criminal Fines and Fees

Beginning January 1st, 2014, Wisconsin imposed a $200 surcharge on misdemeanor defendants found guilty in the Milwaukee Circuit Court. This paper examines the economic impact of the mandatory surcharge and its …

Probation in Allegheny County

Although probation is seen as an alternative to incarceration, it has become a driver of incarceration. Forty percent of people in the Allegheny County Jail are incarcerated because of probation …