California Senate Bill 555
This bill aims to eliminate the high costs of jail phone calls, video visits and other electronic communications. The bill would also regulate the prices of hygiene products and food …
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California SB 1290: Juveniles: costs
This bill vacates county-assessed or court-ordered costs imposed before January 1, 2018, for the parents or guardians of wards in specified circumstances, minors who were ordered to participate in drug …
Misaligned incentives and the scale of incarceration in the United States
In 1996, California passed the California Juvenile Justice Realignment bill (SB 681) which made counties responsible for a higher cost to incarcerate youths in California Youth Authority (CYA) facilities. Data …
Cited for Being in Plain Sight: How California Policies Being Black, Brown, and Unhoused in Public
This report is a detailed analysis of non-traffic infraction data from California which shows that minorities are cited at higher rates than White people.
An Assessment of Access to and Quality of Juvenile Defense Counsel in Oregon
This assessment examines how and when youth access counsel, the quality of representation they receive, and the systemic impediments that prevent youth from receiving high-quality representation. Over the course of …
New York’s Ferguson Problem- How the state’s racist fee system punishes poverty, lacks transparency, and is overdue for reform
This paper shows how New York’s criminal justice fines and fees practices worsen racial disparities and punish low-income people.
Ohio Bench Card: Collection of Court Costs and Fines in Adult Trial Courts
This bench card provides guidance to judges regarding the imposition and collection of court costs and fines. The benchcard provides that a person may be jailed for a willful refusal …
Ohio Bench Card: Collection of Fines and Fees in Juvenile Court
The bench card provides guidance to judges on how to determine a juvenile’s ability to pay, and outlines the circumstances unique to juveniles that must be considered before punishing a …
Hawaii SB2630: Relating to Monetary Obligations
This bill eliminates provisions restricting a person’s ability to obtain or renew a driver’s license, registration, or title due to the nonpayment of traffic fines and fees. Previously, Hawaii did …
Local Government Dependence on Criminal Justice Revenue and Emerging Constraints
Across the nation, local governments use the criminal justice system to balance their budgets through fines, fees, costs, assessments, and forfeitures. Many have become dependent on criminal justice revenue to …