Racial Disparities Archives - Fines and Fees Justice Center

Honest History: How Fines and Fees Came to Harm Black Communities in Virginia

This article takes a look at the history of Virginia’s criminal legal system and the racist laws and policies that resulted in unfair treatment and harmful outcomes for Black Virginians. …

Findings From the Jefferson County Equitable Fines and Fees Project

Alabama is a low-tax,low-service state that relies on bonds, vice taxes, court fines, and fees to fund basic services and projects. This report presents findings from a multi-method study examining …

We Can’t Afford It: Mass Incarceration and The Family Tax

This mixed-methods report quantifies the financial costs incurred by families when a loved one is incarcerated. Drawing on a nationally representative survey of adults with an immediate family member incarcerated …

Bipartisanship at Work: A Decade of Fines and Fees Reform

In an era marked by deep political divisions, certain issues transcend partisan boundaries, uniting leaders in pursuit of common-sense reforms. The movement to eliminate burdensome justice system fines and fees has emerged as one such cause, gaining support from policymakers across the political spectrum.

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 …

Legal Financial Obligations in Washington’s Courts: Final Report to the Legislature

Funded by a 2023 budget bill the Washington State Center for Court Research was tasked to study the state’s system of legal financial obligations (LFOs), this report analyzes the imposition, …

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 …

Racial and Neighborhood Disparities in Legal Financial Obligations in Jefferson County, Alabama

As part of the Jefferson County Equitable Fines and Fees Project (JEFF), a group of data scientists, judges, and advocates collaborated on research to analyze the fairness of Legal Financial …

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 …