Monetary Sanctions: Legal Financial Obligations in US Systems of Justice
This review provides a historical background of court fines and fees and shows how these costs affect people present day.
Juvenile Fines and Fees
Annual Assessments and Collections Report [Florida, 2013-2019]
Each year, the Florida Clerks & Comptrollers release a consolidated summary with data about the fines and fees that were assessed and collected statewide.
Costs of Injustice: How Criminal System Fees Are Hurting Los Angeles County Families
This report shares the life experiences of Los Angeles County residents to illustrate how criminal justice fines and fees assessed by the County can be overly burdensome and punitive.
Nevada Assembly Bill 439: Abolishes juvenile fees.
Nevada Assembly Bill 439 abolishes a wide variety of fees associated with juvenile courts in Nevada, instead providing that relevant services and facilities should be funded through federal, state, or county budgets.
Maryland Senate Bill 823: Juvenile Proceedings – Fines, Fees, and Costs.
Maryland SB 823 would eliminate juvenile justice system fines and fees. Specifically, the bill would eliminate court fees and support costs for the detention and/or treatment of youth, and abolish fines imposed on youth and their families.
New York Should Re-examine Mandatory Court Fees Imposed on Individuals Convicted of Criminal Offenses and Violations
This report examines the current status of mandatory surcharges in New York, describes the impact of the surcharges on indigent defendants, and proposes legislative changes, including the elimination of the surcharges.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors: Discontinuing Collection of Outstanding Juvenile Detention Fees
This legislation discharges all outstanding debt owed by families on behalf of justice-involved youth and mandates that the county inform all affected parents and guardians that they should cease payment as soon as possible. The total amount of debt discharged was over $89 million.
Smart on Crime Innovations Conference panel, “Eliminating User Fees: Just and Fair Ways to Fund the Justice System”
FFJC Co-Director Joanna Weiss participated in a Smart on Crime Innovations Conference panel about eliminating “user fees” in the justice system.
Ten Guidelines on Court Fines and Fees
The American Bar Association developed ten guidelines to ensure that fines and fees do not punish people disproportionately for their poverty.
The Price of Justice: The High Cost of “Free” Counsel for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System
This report documents that the families of children charged with crimes are forced to pay for the cost of legal counsel in all but 10 U.S. states – despite the Constitution’s guarantee that young people who are indigent are entitled to court-appointed counsel.