News

Reforming the Revenue Machine: An Advocate’s Guide to Court Fines and Fees

This multi-part blog series will help advocates translate the data found in Imposing Instability into actionable messaging and steps you can use in campaigns for reform. Each blog will highlight key takeaways, connect national trends to what’s happening on the ground, and offer strategies to push for reform in your own community.

How Fines and Fees Hurt Women and Families: 6 Key Impacts

While many of us shop for flowers or plan brunches for Mother’s Day, millions of moms across the country are carrying a weight that no one should have to bear: unjust court debt.

Press Release: New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham Signs Parole Fee Elimination Bill Into Law

New Law Removes Financial Barriers to Reintegration and Prioritizes Families’ Basic Needs SANTA FE, NM – Yesterday, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed SB 375 into law, a bill which eliminates …

The Price of a Fresh Start: True Second Chances Start With Fines and Fees Reform

Whether you’re fighting for parole and probation reform, advocating for fair housing, supporting reentry programs, or working to expand employment access, this #SecondChanceMonth, we’re calling on criminal justice reform advocates to consider how addressing fines and fees reform can enhance the work you’re already doing.

Press Release: Gov. Glenn Youngkin Signs Bill Establishing Fair and Affordable Payment Plans for Court Debt

(Richmond, VA) On Monday, March 24th, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed HB 1661 into law, establishing a fair and consistent payment plan system for Virginians that have been struggling to pay down court debt.

Bipartisanship at Work: A Decade of Fines and Fees Reform

In an era marked by deep political divisions, certain issues transcend partisan boundaries, uniting leaders in pursuit of common-sense reforms. The movement to eliminate burdensome justice system fines and fees has emerged as one such cause, gaining support from policymakers across the political spectrum.

2024 Legislative Roundup: Fines and Fees Reform Around the Country

As jurisdictions gear up for the upcoming 2025 sessions, now is the time for advocates to analyze 2024’s fines and fees legislation and strategize for 2025.

FFJC Commends Gov. Stitt’s Commitment to Ending Justice Fees and Reforming Court Debt Practices in Oklahoma

Today, Governor Kevin Stitt made a bold commitment in his 2025 State of the State Address to reform fines and fees practices, acknowledging their role in trapping Oklahoma residents in a cycle of debt.

Press Release: Advocates Applaud Legislature and Governor DeWine for Reducing Debt-Related Driver’s License Suspensions with Passage of HB 29

(Columbus, OH) Today, Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 29, legislation that will remove many of the financial barriers that lead to driver’s license suspensions. With the adoption of this …

FFJC Appoints Priya Sarathy Jones as Co-Executive Director

In less than seven years since its founding, the Fines and Fees Justice Center (FFJC) has grown from a conversation across a dining room table into a national bipartisan movement …