Consumer Debt Litigation Index
The Consumer Debt Litigation Index, developed by the National Center for Access to Justice (NCAJ), evaluates how well each U.S. state and the District of Columbia protects consumers facing debt …
The Cost of Juvenile Probation: A Critical Look into Juvenile Supervision Fees
Probation is the most common disposition for a child to receive, with more than 200,000 children placed on probation each year. In courts across the country, children and their families …
Prison disciplinary fines only further impoverish incarcerated people and families
At least one third of prison systems in the United States charge fines as punishment for a rule violation. The issuance of fines and fees for rules violations do not …
A Matter of Time: The Case For Shortening Criminal Debt Collection Statutes of Limitations, A 50-State Survey
Legal financial obligations (LFO) can trap people in poverty and the legal system. When reducing the amount of debt people owe is not a viable option, reducing the length of …
The Drive to Jail: Why States Should Decriminalize Minor Traffic Offenses and Stop Using Bench Warrants to Enforce Traffic Laws
Minor traffic offenses should not be considered crimes. Yet, in 17 states, these minor violations are considered misdemeanors that could lead to immediate arrest and jail time for things like …
Gideon at 60: A Snapshot of State Public Defense Systems and Paths To System Reform
In 1963, Gideon v. Wainwright established the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel for indigent persons charged with felonies, which would later extend to misdemeanors and delinquency proceedings in juvenile court. …
Access to Justice Spotlight: Fines & Fees
In April 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Office of Justice Programs, and Office for Access to Justice issued a revised Dear Colleague Letter, which detailed seven …
Ten Principles of A Public Defense Delivery System
In 2002, the American Bar Association (ABA) adopted ten principles for policymakers, public defense administrators, and other stakeholders to assess their jurisdictions’ compliance with best practices for providing effective indigent …
The Impact of Criminal Financial Sanctions: A Multi-State Analysis of Survey and Administrative Data
This multi-state study assesses outcomes related to recidivism, employment, expenditures, mental well-being, and household spillovers. Researchers specifically analyzed how increasing the dollar amount of financial obligations imposed upon conviction across …
Poverty Penalties as Human Rights Problems
Financial sanctions have led to widespread poverty penalties on low-income and vulnerable populations and are a domestic and international human rights concern. States disproportionately punish poor defendants when fines for …