California Archives - Fines and Fees Justice Center

Regressive Revenue Sourcing by Local Governments

With limits on revenue sources, such as property taxes and intergovernmental transfers, localities are increasingly turning to regressive and discriminatory non tax alternatives such as fines, fees, and forfeitures to …

Traffic Stops Los Angeles Police Department

To understand the impact of traffic stops and citations, SPUR analyzed 2019 traffic stop data from Los Angeles, California. Data shows traffic stops are not evenly distributed across racial and …

So Many Roadblocks: How California’s Program Fees System Traps Low-Income Drivers

California automatically suspends the driver’s licenses of people convicted for driving under the influence (DUI) and requires participation in an alcohol and drug education program in order to reinstate a …

Eliminating Discriminatory Fines and Fees: Learning from San Franscisco

In New York City, fines and fees provide the city with more than $2 billion in revenue each year. However, many of these fines and fees fall on lower income …

Race Representation and Revenue: Reliance on Fines and Forfeitures in City Governments

The Department of Justice’s Ferguson report suggests cities with a higher population of Black people and an overrepresentation of White people in their law enforcement agencies levy fines at higher …

Civil Assessments: The Hidden Court Fee That Penalizes Poverty

California allows courts to charge a civil assessment fee of up to $300 to people who miss a deadline to pay or appear in court. An estimated 300,000 people receive …

What is Wrong with Monetary Sanctions?: Directions for Policy, Practice, and Research

Each year tens of millions of people are assessed fines, fees, and other costs stemming from their contacts with the criminal legal system, ranging from felony convictions to traffic violations. …

What Is Wrong with Monetary Sanctions? Directions for Policy, Practice, and Research

Monetary sanctions are an increasing form of punishment for criminal offenses that have generated billions of dollars in revenue while also generating massive amounts of penal debt for low-income individuals. …

Bridging the Gap

When someone drives over one of the Bay Area’s toll bridges, they are charged $6 and sent an invoice. If the toll is not paid promptly, drivers are charged a …

Eliminating fees in the Alameda County juvenile justice system meaningfully reduced financial burdens on families

Parents and families are typically responsible for the financial responsibilities imposed on minors by the juvenile justice system. In 2018, California became the first state to repeal administrative fees in …