Racial Disparities Archives - Fines and Fees Justice Center

From Barriers to Bridges: How Fines and Fees Reform Can Help Boost Economic Security

In Georgia, fines and fees imposed by state and local governments in the criminal legal system are a barrier to economic security. This report by the Georgia Budget and Policy …

Failure to Pay The Use of Debt-Based Carceral Sanctions and Warrants in Wisconsin’s Municipal Courts

Although municipal courts in Wisconsin do not enforce criminal penalties, many order the arrest and jailing of people for debt-based sanctions. Municipal courts use writs of commitment to authorize the …

Beyond Enforcement: Prioritizing Safety in Federal Transportation Funding

The Department of Transportation (DOT) provides grants for traffic safety measures, but its reporting requirements often prioritize enforcement metrics over strategies to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities. This white paper …

Fact Sheet: Unpacking The Latest Fines and Fees Trends Across Georgia

In Georgia, local governments that rely heavily on fines and fees end up criminalizing residents who struggle to pay, with the burden falling hardest on communities with high poverty rates …

How Fines and Fees Impact Family Well-Being

Fines and fees, imposed at every level of the criminal legal system, significantly affect the well-being of families. Using data from the Urban Institute’s 2023 Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey, …

The Jefferson County Equitable Fines and Fees Project: Preliminary Findings on Fairness and Efficacy

Local governments impose legal financial obligations (LFOs) on individuals convicted of traffic violations, misdemeanors, and felonies. The Jefferson County Equitable Fines and Fees (JEFF) Project studied over 8,000 felony and …

Hidden Price of Justice: Fines and Fees in DC’s Criminal Legal System

The use of criminal legal fines and fees to to fill state and local budgetary gaps has deep roots in a history of anti-Black racism. That history is evident in …

Predation and the Disproportionate Risk of Driver’s License Suspensions in Economically and Racially Marginalized Communities

Driver’s license suspensions for non-safety reasons such as failure to appear or failure to pay exploit vulnerable groups in order to fill state and local budgets. Analyzing Department of Motor …

Redesigning Public Safety: Substance Use

Many people who use drugs are also involved in the criminal legal system and have to pay fines and fees. Fines are often used to deter and punish drug use, …

Seven Red Flags in ATE Contracts

By Tanisha Pierrette – Research Analyst – Fines and Fees Justice Center Though often branded as a foolproof solution to safer roads, automated traffic enforcement (ATE) — specifically the fines …