Welcome to FFJC’s digital library of resources related to fines and fees, also known as the Clearinghouse. Our repository of research and tools is curated and summarized by our Policy and Research team and includes key fines and fees research, litigation, legislation, policy analysis and guidance, and case studies. Use the search features below to find the information you need to drive reform.
E.g., ‘impacts of fines and fees’
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Debt Sentence: How Fines And Fees Hurt Working Families
This report shares the results of a national survey of over 5,600 adults to see how court-imposed fines and fees affect people across the country.
Debt Sentence: How Fines And Fees Hurt Working Families
Winnable Criminal Justice Reforms 2026
Winnable Criminal Justice Reforms 2026
The Prison Policy Initiative released a list of promising policy reforms across several touchpoints in the criminal legal system: sentencing, incarceration, and release. The report…
How Cities are Rethinking Fines and Fees to Strengthen Residents’ Economic Stability
How Cities are Rethinking Fines and Fees to Strengthen Residents’ Economic Stability
Cities across the country have a duty to their residents to promote economic mobility. The National League of Cities launched the Cities Addressing Fines and Fees Equitably Initiat…
Community Service Alternatives: A Free Resource List for Courts and Other Justice System Stakeholders
Community Service Alternatives: A Free Resource List for Courts and Other Justice System Stakeholders
When an individual does not have the ability to pay fines or fees, community service can be an appropriate alternative to financial sanctions. While typically available in most jur…
The Essential Guide to Court Reminder Programs
The Essential Guide to Court Reminder Programs
Nationwide, millions of people fail to appear for scheduled court dates despite having intentions to attend. This guide developed by ideas42 draws on more than ten years of researc…
Participant Experiences in the City of Tempe Community Supervision Program’s Incentive Program
Participant Experiences in the City of Tempe Community Supervision Program’s Incentive Program
In Tempe, Arizona, community supervision clients have the opportunity to exchange the cost of their monthly fees for participation in voluntary classes, community service, career d…
This Pennsylvania County Wiped Out Millions in Jail Debt
This Pennsylvania County Wiped Out Millions in Jail Debt
In 2022, Dauphin County ended its pay-to-stay policy, which charged incarcerated people daily fees for their incarceration, but left the outstanding debts intact. After realizing t…
Warrant Strategy
Warrant Strategy
Managing old warrants aged anywhere from 5 to 25 years contributes to significant backlogs in the legal system. This report highlights Cook County’s strategic efforts to addr…
In the Rearview Mirror: St. Louis’s Municipal Courts After a Decade of Reform and Regress
In the Rearview Mirror: St. Louis’s Municipal Courts After a Decade of Reform and Regress
Ten years ago, the death of Michael Brown ignited the Ferguson Uprising, bringing to light systemic injustices in municipal courts across St. Louis County. In the wake of this trag…
Wilmington Fines and Fees Task Force Findings and Recommendations
Wilmington Fines and Fees Task Force Findings and Recommendations
Lower-income residents in Wilmington face financial hardship as the costs and fees from the city rise. In 2022, the Wilmington City Council created the Fines and Fees Task Force to…
Washtenaw County Fines and Fees Justice Report
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, the S…