Public Safety Archives - Page 3 of 10 - Fines and Fees Justice Center

RI opens path for former inmates to break impoverishing cycle of court fees and fines

Many Rhode Islanders are saddled with debt after incarceration, making reentering into their communities difficult. After the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, Rhode Island’s Supreme Court Committee on Racial …

Bridging the Gap

When someone drives over one of the Bay Area’s toll bridges, they are charged $6 and sent an invoice. If the toll is not paid promptly, drivers are charged a …

Eliminating fees in the Alameda County juvenile justice system meaningfully reduced financial burdens on families

Parents and families are typically responsible for the financial responsibilities imposed on minors by the juvenile justice system. In 2018, California became the first state to repeal administrative fees in …

The (Non) Economics of Criminal Fines and Fees

Misdemeanors constitute 80 percent of all criminal cases in the United States. Beginning January 1st, 2014, Wisconsin imposed a $200 surcharge on misdemeanor defendants found guilty in the Milwaukee Circuit …

The Demand for Money Behind Many Traffic Stops

Cities and towns, often those with weakened tax bases or that are barred from easily raising revenue, use fines and fees to raise revenue. Over 730 municipalities rely on fines …

2021 Driving Injustice: Consequences and Disparities in North Carolina Legal and Traffic Debt

An increase in fines, fees, and license suspension for traffic tickets, infractions, and misdemeanors has created a vicious cycle of court debt. People who do not pay their debt within …

Parking fines no longer pay the city’s bills

The city of Los Angeles’ traffic enforcement division use to generate $20 million of net income. For the past five years, fines from parking tickets generated over $617 million for …

Dismantling Policing for Profit: How to Build on Missouri’s Post-Ferguson Court Reforms

After the killing of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, the Department of Justice (DOJ) found Ferguson’s focus on generating revenue over public safety, along with racial …

Step One to an Antiracist State Revenue Policy: Eliminate Criminal Justice Fees and Reform Fines

Many state revenue policies are rooted in racist history and continue to worsen racial inequities and harm public safety. For example, the white supremacist group, the Redeemers, took political power …

Speeding in Texas? New analysis reveals where police pulled over the most people

Small towns in Texas are using aggressive ticketing strategies on speeding drivers to raise revenue for their budgets. The Houston Chronicle analyzed traffic stop and ticketing numbers reported to the …