National Archives - Page 4 of 20 - Fines and Fees Justice Center

The impact of county-level fees & fines as exploitative revenue generation on US birth outcomes

In this study, researchers hypothesize that structural racism in the reliance on fines and fees becomes embodied, increasing the risk of preterm birth and low birthweight. Using 2012 Census of …

The Failed Promise of Installment Fines

When the Supreme Court reaffirmed, in 1970, that it was unconstitutional to incarcerate someone who is unable to pay a court fine or fee, it suggested that payment plans could …

SMH: The Rapid & Unregulated Growth of E‑messaging in Prisons

Text-based electronic messaging or “e-massaging,” not to be confused with emailing, has exploded in the past decade. At least 43 state prison systems and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) …

State Strategies to Address the Needs of Justice-Involved Youth Impacted by Collateral Consequences

Collateral consequences refers to the adverse effects resulting from an interaction with the justice system. Even youth with the lowest level of engagement with the system face collateral consequences that …

State Debt-Based Driver’s License Suspension Laws

Depending on the state’s statute, a driver can lose their license for unpaid amounts arising from criminal fines or fees, civil fines or fees, child support, taxes, tolls, or a …

State Debt-Based Car Registration Suspension Laws

Each state has a law permitting the nonrenewal or cancellation of a car registration for nonpayment of a debt to the state or arising from a state-controlled system. Because every …

Police Killings and Municipal Reliance on Fine-and-Fee Revenue

Between 2016 and 2021, more than 400 unarmed people were killed by police during traffic stops. In addition, metropolitan areas that rely more on revenue from fines and fees experience …

Fines and Fees: Consequences and Opportunities for Reform

The utilization of fines and fees in the criminal legal system for revenue generation raises substantial questions regarding equity and may create perverse incentives for government entities dependent on the …

Local Governments Collected $9 Billion in Fines And Fees in 2020

The use of fines and fees to generate revenue can be exploitative and a conflict of interest when relied on as an essential source of revenue. Using data from the …

Council on Policing Reforms and Race: Council Findings and Recommendations

The Council on Policing Reforms and Race released more than fifty recommendations to address policing and public safety. The Council is an independent, non-partisan initiative formed by the National Policing …