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Priced Out: A 50-State Survey of How Diversion Fees Create Unequal Justice

The Fines and Fees Justice Center examined legislative authorization and statewide court rules in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine whether statutory provisions explicitly authorize or permit diversion program fees and, if so, whether they establish guidance or limits on what may be charged.

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 …

Providing Labor Market Context For Debt-Related Driver’s License Suspensions In Ohio

Debt-related suspensions (DRS) are the most common reason for driver’s license suspension in Ohio. As the need for a valid driver’s license increases as a condition of employment across all …

Fant et al. v. City of Ferguson

Case No. 4-15-CV-00253-AGF| Settled February 27, 2024 Claims at Issue: In a class action complaint filed on February 8, 2015, the plaintiffs, nine class representatives who had been issued traffic …

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 …

Post-Ferguson Class Action Suits Challenging Fine and Fee Schemes in Missouri

Post-Ferguson Class Action Suits Challenging Fine and Fee Schemes in Missouri In 2014, when a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri shot and killed Michael Brown, the City of Ferguson …

If You Can’t Afford an Attorney, One Will Be Appointed. And You May Get a Huge Bill

Although the majority of states try to recoup counsel fees for indigent defenders, Iowa charges some of the highest fees. Even in cases where individuals are acquitted, or charges are …

Penalizing the Poor: An Assessment of the Administration of Fines and Fees in Florida Misdemeanor Courts

Florida courts’ fine and fee procedures punish people for being poor. In 2018, the American Bar Association (ABA) developed guidance on fairly administering court fines and fees to ensure people …

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 …

Washtenaw County Fines and Fees Justice Report

In August of 2022, Washtenaw County was selected to participate in the Cities and Counties for Fines and Fees Justice (CCFFJ) cohort led by the Fines and Fees Justice Center, …