Report on the Results of the Arizona Judiciary Pilot Collections Project
This Arizona collections pilot program aimed to test whether a temporary reduction in fine amounts might increase court revenues.
In For A Penny- The Rise of America’s New Debtors’ Prisons
This publication uses personal accounts of people in five different states who struggled to pay their court debt to illustrate the negative effects of debtors’ prisons on individuals, the economy, and the justice system.
Criminal Justice Debt: A Barrier to Reentry
This seminal report examines fines and fees practices in the fifteen U.S. states with the highest prison populations, focusing on “user fees” and their impact on individuals reentering society after incarceration.
Office of the New York State Comptroller: Report on the Justice Court Fund
This 2010 Justice Court Fund report from the New York State Comptroller details revenue trends in New York's local courts.
The Hidden Costs of Florida’s Criminal Justice Fees
This report examines the impact of the Florida Legislature’s decision to levy “user fees” on people accused and convicted of traffic violations, misdemeanors and felonies without providing exemptions for the indigent.
Political Economy at Any Speed: What Determines Traffic Citations?
Using data from traffic stops in 350 Massachusetts municipalities, the authors found that “the likelihood and dollar amounts of fines are decreasing functions of local property tax revenue”—in other words, the more cash-strapped a municipality is, the more likely police officers are to issue traffic tickets (and larger traffic tickets).
Nickel and Diming the Criminal Defendant: A Look at Financial Penalties in Felony Cases
This article details the costs, fees, and financial assessments that may be imposed as part of a felony sentence in Michigan and the authorizing statutes.
Maryland’s Parole Supervision Fee: A Barrier To Reentry
This report explains how Maryland’s parole supervision fee works against the rehabilitative goals of the state’s supervision policies and how the $40/month fee can impede a person’s successful reentry.
Justice Most Local: The Future of Town and Village Courts in New York State
In 2007, New York’s Special Commission on the Future of the New York State Courts visited nearly 100 courts in every judicial district, met with hundreds of judges and court officials, and heard testimony from 85 witnesses in order to learn more about the status of New York town and village courts. This report is the product of their comprehensive, first-of-its-kind review of New York’s town and village courts.
Jailing The Poor: Court Debt And Incarceration In RI
This policy brief describes how often people in Rhode Island are jailed for nonpayment of court fines and fees and barriers to repayment.