Alternatives to Fines and Fees Archives - Fines and Fees Justice Center

Pierce County, WA Hosts Legal Financial Obligations Reconsideration Day

Washington State’s Pierce County held a Legal Financial Obligation (LFO) Reconsideration Day in September 2019, allowing individuals with outstanding LFOs to meet with attorneys and judges for potential reduction or …

Penalizing the Poor: An Assessment of the Administration of Fines and Fees in Florida Misdemeanor Courts

Florida courts’ fine and fee procedures punish people for being poor. In 2018, the American Bar Association (ABA) developed guidance on fairly administering court fines and fees to ensure people …

Victim Experiences With Restitution and Compensation

Victims of crimes in Arizona seeking restitution and compensation can often have difficulty navigating the system, encountering issues related to eligibility and allowable costs, administrative burdens, and multi-jurisdictional conflicts. Based …

Access to Justice Spotlight: Fines & Fees

In April 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Office of Justice Programs, and Office for Access to Justice issued a revised Dear Colleague Letter, which detailed seven …

City of Whitefish v. Curran

Issues 1. Can a court impose a fine on someone with a demonstrated inability to pay? 2. Is it an abuse of discretion to fail to offer alternatives to a …

Punishing the Poor: An Assessment of the Administration of Fines and Fees in New Mexico Misdemeanor Courts

Low-income people in New Mexico accused of minor crimes are often caught in a vicious cycle where they are jailed because they can’t afford to pay monetary sanctions. In 2018, …

Reimagining Restitution: New Approaches to Support Youth and Communities

Courts began ordering youth restitution in the 1960s as a less restrictive sanction than probation or incarceration for mostly white youth. Since then, restitution has been linked to higher recidivism …

OKC Municipal Court Programs Provide Real Alternatives To Incarceration

Oklahoma City has taken a holistic approach to removing barriers to progress for people in Oklahoma City that have been criminalized due to their poverty and homelessness. Through a collection …

Civil Assessments: The Hidden Court Fee That Penalizes Poverty

California allows courts to charge a civil assessment fee of up to $300 to people who miss a deadline to pay or appear in court. An estimated 300,000 people receive …

Discounts for People Experiencing Homelessness in San Francisco

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is offering discounts on citations and fees for people experiencing homelessness. Discounts include a one-time waiver of all open parking citations, removal of …