Cascading Consequences of Fines and Fees on Rural Communities

Despite evidence that fines and fees are an unstable and unreliable revenue source, states and local governments impose court fines and fees to fund court operations, law enforcement, and other government services. When not paid, fines and fees can trigger cascading sanctions including driver’s license suspension, repeated court involvement, and arrest. 

In the first of a series analyzing the impact of courts on people, Pew examines the ways in which fines and fees can destabilize employment, finances, and health in rural communities. In rural communities, debt-based license suspensions further restrict access to work where reliable transit alternatives are already limited, unemployment rates are more volatile, there are often fewer job opportunities, and there are higher rates of poverty than urban areas. Court debt has also been shown to affect health outcomes– declining health can limit the ability to work or pay debts, and financial instability can cause stress or restrict access to care. In rural communities, people already face substantial health disparities. The author also highlights states that have taken action to address the consequences of court debt on rural communities.

You can read the full text of the article here.