Ability to Pay Archives - Page 31 of 38 - Fines and Fees Justice Center

Rivera v. Orange County Probation

Orange County Probation Department sent a bill of $16,372 to a juvenile’s mother for reimbursement of reasonable costs of support while her son was in detention. The County sought $23.90 for each day of detention and $2199 in legal expenses. Doing her best to pay the debt, Rivera sold her house and paid $9508. Unable to pay the rest, she was served, and a default judgment of $9905 was issued against her for failure to appear. Ms. Rivera eventually filed for bankruptcy.

Baker et al. v. City of Florissant

In violation of due process rights, the City of Florissant jails people unable to pay court fines and fees without any inquiry into their ability to pay.

Alvarado v. Superior Court of California

The Superior Court of the County of Los Angeles referred people who owed court fines and fees for traffic tickets to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) without any inquiry into the individual’s ability to pay. A referral to the DMV resulted in the suspension of the person’s driver’s license.

A Fine Scheme: How Municipal Fines Become Crushing Debt in the Shadow of the New Debtors’ Prison

As budgets tighten, municipalities have turned to fines and fees to fill empty coffers. The result is that the rich may walk away, while the poor must pay or stay.

Roberts et al. v. Black et al.

Fifteen percent of the Bogalusa City Court’s revenue is derived from court fines and fees. Judge Black gives indigent defendants the options of jail for nonpayment of fines and fees or the payment of an illegal $50 extension fee to buy additional time to pay their court debt.

Ability to Pay

Rivera v. Orange County Probation

Baker et al. v. City of Florissant

Alvarado v. Superior Court of California

A Fine Scheme: How Municipal Fines Become Crushing Debt in the Shadow of the New Debtors’ Prison

Roberts et al. v. Black et al.

Personal Narrative: Rozzie Scott

Rubicon Programs, et al. v. Superior Court of California, County of Solano, et al.

Michigan Supreme Court ADM File No. 2015-12: Nonpayment incarceration, ability to pay

Personal Narrative: Levi Lane

Canaan v. City of El Paso