Michigan House Bills No. 4987–4991
The Michigan legislature introduced a package of bills that would prohibit juvenile courts from assessing and collecting fines and fees from juveniles or their families. The bills eliminate diversion program …
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Beck v. Elmore County
Issue May a court issue a warrant of attachment (sometimes known as a bench warrant or capias in other jurisdictions) for nonpayment of fines and fees without some evidence …
MN HF 10
The Minnesota legislature passed an omnibus transportation bill prohibiting driver’s license suspensions after a conviction for driving on a suspended or revoked license or based solely on a person’s failure …
Stripping the Gears of White Supremacy: A Call to Abate Reliance on Court Fines and Fees and Revitalize Local Taxation
The imposition of court debt began in the 1960s and became more prominent in the 1980s through fines, fees, costs, assessments, asset forfeiture, and restitution. States and municipalities have come …
Financial Health and Criminal Justice: The Impacts of Involvement
The Financial Health Network surveyed 573 individuals about their own or a household member’s experience with the justice system to better understand the impacts on their financial health. Researchers surveyed …
Delaware HB 244: An act to amend the code relating to fines, fees, costs, assessments, and restitution
The Delaware legislature introduced a bill to eliminate a number of fines and fees including fines and costs in juvenile delinquency proceedings, the public defender fee, and the probation supervision …
Louisiana HB 216: Provides relative to the imposition of court costs in proceedings involving children
Louisiana passed legislation prohibiting the authority of juvenile justice courts to assess costs in juvenile delinquency proceedings against a juvenile, their parents, or guardians. The provisions take effect beginning Jul …
NV SB219
The Nevada legislature passed legislation to end the practice of suspending an individual’s driver’s license, or prohibiting an individual from applying for a driver’s license, due to a delinquent fine, …
Nevada AB 116
The Nevada Assembly approved legislation to decriminalize minor traffic violations and end the practice of issuing warrants when an individual can’t afford to pay the fines and fees imposed. You …
More Harm than Good: Building a more Just Fine and Fee System in California
Fines and fees push many low-income, Black, and Latinx California families into debt, cutting into their ability to meet basic needs. Researchers estimate that there is at least $10 billion …