California Archives - Fines and Fees Justice Center

How California Jails and Youth Lockups Profit off Incarcerated People & Their Families

In partnership with the Young Women’s Freedom Center and the Children’s Defense Fund of California, the San Francisco Financial Justice Project examined the costs of phone calls in youth lockups …

California AB 1869 Criminal fees

This bill repeals the authority of counties to charge defendants for 23 of the most harmful fees imposed in the criminal legal system including, administering probation and mandatory supervision, processing …

California Senate Bill 555

This bill aims to eliminate the high costs of jail phone calls, video visits and other electronic communications. The bill would also regulate the prices of hygiene products and food …

Jesus Pimentel et al. v. City of Los Angeles

Background: A City of Los Angeles ordinance requires a person pay a $63 fine if their car is parked past the allotted time limit. If the fine is not paid …

Advancing Financial Justice in San Francisco: The Experience and Lessons of the City’s Financial Justice Project

This paper summarizes the lessons, successes, and challenges of the San Francisco Financial Justice Project, especially concerning criminal justice fines and fees reform.

Driving Toward Justice: How ending driver’s license suspensions for unpaid traffic tickets helps communities without impacting court collections

This brief describes reforms that were implemented after the San Francisco Superior Court’s decision to eliminate debt-based driver’s license suspensions.

Motion Eliminating Los Angeles County Criminal System Administrative Fees

This motion ends the imposition and collection of all discretionary criminal legal fees collected by Los Angeles County and discharges all outstanding debts.

Edwards v. Leaders in Community Alternatives

Alameda County contracts with Leaders in Community Alternatives (LCA) to provide court-ordered GPS tracking and alcohol monitoring devices for people on pre-trial or home detention. Although LCA is supposed to charge fees on a sliding scale based on a person’s ability to pay, LCA does not adjust its fees based on a person’s actual financial circumstances and never informs people that reduced fees are available.

Monetary Obligations: Legal Financial Obligations in US Systems of Justice

This review provides a historical background of court fines and fees and shows how these costs affect people present day.

Costs of Injustice: How Criminal System Fees Are Hurting Los Angeles County Families

This report shares the life experiences of Los Angeles County residents to illustrate how criminal justice fines and fees assessed by the County can be overly burdensome and punitive.