Office of the New York State Comptroller: Report on the Justice Court Fund
This 2010 Justice Court Fund report from the New York State Comptroller details revenue trends in New York's local courts.
News
The Hidden Costs of Florida’s Criminal Justice Fees
This report examines the impact of the Florida Legislature’s decision to levy “user fees” on people accused and convicted of traffic violations, misdemeanors and felonies without providing exemptions for the indigent.
Political Economy at Any Speed: What Determines Traffic Citations?
Using data from traffic stops in 350 Massachusetts municipalities, the authors found that “the likelihood and dollar amounts of fines are decreasing functions of local property tax revenue”—in other words, the more cash-strapped a municipality is, the more likely police officers are to issue traffic tickets (and larger traffic tickets).
Nickel and Diming the Criminal Defendant: A Look at Financial Penalties in Felony Cases
This article details the costs, fees, and financial assessments that may be imposed as part of a felony sentence in Michigan and the authorizing statutes.
Maryland’s Parole Supervision Fee: A Barrier To Reentry
This report explains how Maryland’s parole supervision fee works against the rehabilitative goals of the state’s supervision policies and how the $40/month fee can impede a person’s successful reentry.
Justice Most Local: The Future of Town and Village Courts in New York State
In 2007, New York’s Special Commission on the Future of the New York State Courts visited nearly 100 courts in every judicial district, met with hundreds of judges and court officials, and heard testimony from 85 witnesses in order to learn more about the status of New York town and village courts. This report is the product of their comprehensive, first-of-its-kind review of New York’s town and village courts.
Jailing The Poor: Court Debt And Incarceration In RI
This policy brief describes how often people in Rhode Island are jailed for nonpayment of court fines and fees and barriers to repayment.
The Assessment and Consequences of Legal Financial Obligations in Washington State
To develop an understanding of how fines and fees are imposed and enforced in Washington State, this study analyzes 50 interviews with Washington State residents as well as data from 3,366 Washington Superior Court cases.
Court Debt and Related Incarceration in Rhode Island from 2005 through 2007
Rhode Island’s most frequent cause of incarceration is court debt, which not only causes inefficient use of state finances, but disrupts people’s lives. To determine the extent to which incarceration …
Personal Narrative: Chad Walker
Shortly after Chad Walker relocated to Hawaii for a new job, his employer closed and he became unemployed. During this time, Walker incurred traffic tickets that he could not afford to pay. He didn't find out that his license was suspended due to the unpaid ticket until he went to renew his license in 2012.