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 …
California SB 1290: Juveniles: costs
This bill vacates county-assessed or court-ordered costs imposed before January 1, 2018, for the parents or guardians of wards in specified circumstances, minors who were ordered to participate in drug …
Misaligned incentives and the scale of incarceration in the United States
In 1996, California passed the California Juvenile Justice Realignment bill (SB 681) which made counties responsible for a higher cost to incarcerate youths in California Youth Authority (CYA) facilities. Data …
Cited for Being in Plain Sight: How California Policies Being Black, Brown, and Unhoused in Public
This report is a detailed analysis of non-traffic infraction data from California which shows that minorities are cited at higher rates than White people.
Best Practices: Reforming Fine & Fee Policies in the Criminal Justice System
The tough-on-crime era of the 1980s and 1990 and anti-tax sentiments have led many state and local governments to shift the cost of the criminal justice systems from taxpayers to …
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.