Montana Archives - Fines and Fees Justice Center

Identifying Drivers of Absconding

To identify the factors that drive parole and probation revocations, the Crime and Justice Institute, conducted a comprehensive assessment of community supervision policies and practices in Colorado, Florida, Mississippi, and …

State v. Gibbons

Issue 1. Whether a law that imposed a $5,000 mandatory minimum fine without regard to the defendant’s ability to pay, is facially unconstitutional under the Excessive Fines Clause of both …

City of Whitefish v. Curran

Issues 1. Can a court impose a fine on someone with a demonstrated inability to pay? 2. Is it an abuse of discretion to fail to offer alternatives to a …

Montana House Bill 217: An act revising laws related to suspension of a driver’s license for nonpayment of fines, fees, or restitution

Montana House Bill 217 provides that a person’s driver’s license cannot be suspended for failure to pay a fine, fee, or restitution.

DiFrancesco v. Fox

Plaintiffs allege that defendant’s practice of suspending drivers’ licenses indefinitely until all court fines and fees are paid regardless of ability to pay violates equal protection and due process.

Missoula v. Franklin

This case challenges the imposition of a surcharge by the City of Missoula that is not authorized by state law.