Indiana Archives - Fines and Fees Justice Center

The Cost of Justice: In Indiana, Legal Fines and Fees Are Determined by Where You Live

Monetary sanctions can prevent intergenerational wealth through the seizure of property, assets, and accounts, and the collateral consequences they perpetuate are often overlooked. People involved in the criminal legal system …

Cycles of Debt: Research Indicates That Driver’s License Suspensions Over Unpaid Fines Targets Black Drivers

In the first-ever study of failure-to-pay suspensions in the United States, researchers Sian Mughan and Joanna Carroll examined a sample of over 2000 drivers who received traffic tickets in Marion …

IN HB 1199: An act to amend the Indiana Code concerning motor vehicles

Indiana recently passed a bill ending driver’s licenses suspension for failure to appear. The bill continues to permit suspensions for failure to pay, but upon a showing of proof of financial responsibility, …

IN HB 1208

This bill repeals language concerning certain juvenile fines, fees, and costs. Key Provisions: Repeals language concerning: (1) reimbursement by a parent to a county for certain costs related to the …

Case Studies in Indiana Community Corrections Fines and Fees

The experiences of four people involved in court-ordered community service programs in Indiana highlight the costs people are expected to pay and the variation of costs assessed between different people.

Escaping the Long Arm of the Law? Racial Disparities in the Effect of Failure-to- Pay License Suspension

This paper studies the unintended consequences of suspending driver’s licenses for failure to pay by examining the effect of suspension on the likelihood of receiving future tickets. Researchers followed defendants …

Timbs v. Indiana

Petitioner used life insurance proceeds to purchase a Land Rover for $41,558.30. He used the vehicle to transport heroin worth a total of $385. He was arrested and his vehicle was seized. Petitioner argued that the forfeiture was excessive in violation of the Eight Amendment’s excessive fines clause.

The Right to Counsel in Indiana: Evaluation of Trial Level Indigent Defender Services

In Indiana, federal and state constitutions entitle all adults or children found to be indigent and facing the possibility of incarceration on misdemeanors or felonies, the right to public counsel. …

Mueller v. State

Two appellants convicted of misdemeanors offered participation in the pretrial diversion program upon payment of $230 in fees. They filed a complaint alleging removal from the program because of their inability to pay the fees is a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.