Keyword search across all of the laws in the states. Subject-area tabs above allow you to narrow results. Click the advanced search for further refinement.
Every law can be saved to the Reform Builder
See all ability to pay policy recommendations in CJPP’s Policy Guide
Below are the ability to pay laws that meet your search criteria. Many include a See related provisions prompt which searches our database for laws that may pertain to your result.
6 Results
State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | Level of offense | Definition of ability to pay | Timeline | Burden of proof | Method of determination | Mandatory | Remedies if unable to pay | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Add to Dashboard
|
Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 9730 | Payment of Court Costs, Restitution, and Fines |
If a defendant defaults in the payment of a fine, court costs or restitution after imposition of sentence, the issuing authority or a senior judge or senior magisterial district judge + See moreappointed by the president judge for the purposes of this section may conduct a hearing to determine whether the defendant is financially able to pay. . . If the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge determines that the defendant is without the financial means to pay the fine or costs immediately or in a single remittance, the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge may provide for payment in installments. In determining the appropriate installments, the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge shall consider the defendant's financial resources, the defendant's ability to make restitution and reparations and the nature of the burden the payment will impose on the defendant. If the defendant is in default of a payment or advises the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge that default is imminent, the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge may schedule a rehearing on the payment schedule. At the rehearing the defendant has the burden of proving changes of financial condition such that the defendant is without the means to meet the payment schedule. The issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge may extend or accelerate the schedule, leave it unaltered or sentence the defendant to a period of community service as the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge finds to be just and practicable under the circumstances.
|
All |
financial means to pay, taking account of financial resources and nature of burden |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | No |
extension or acceleration of payment schedule; community service |
Add to Dashboard
|
Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-11-402(a) | Subpoena of witnesses for indigent defendants |
(a) Upon application of a defendant and upon a satisfactory showing that the defendant is financially unable to pay the fees of a witness and that the presence of the witness is necessary to an adequate defense, the court shall order that a subpoena be issued for service on a named witness and order that all fees and costs incurred be paid as provided by subsection (b) of this section.
(b) If the court orders a subpoena to be issued under this section, the costs incurred and the fees of the witness so subpoenaed shall be paid by the public defender's office. |
All | Not provided for | At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Fees of the witness so subpoenaed shall be paid by the public defender's office |
Add to Dashboard
|
Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-11-506 | Trial transcript for indigent prisoner upon appeal |
Any person sentenced to imprisonment in a state penal institution, who appeals to the supreme court, may file, in the court in which that person was convicted, a petition requesting that the person be furnished with a stenographic transcript of the proceedings at that person's trial. The petition shall be verified by the petitioner and shall state facts showing that at the time of conviction and at the time of filing the petition that person was without financial means to pay for the transcript. If the judge who imposed sentence, or any other judge of the court, finds that the defendant is without financial means with which to obtain the transcript of the proceedings at trial, the judge shall order the reporter to transcribe an original and copy of the reporter's notes. The original of the transcript shall be filed with the clerk and the copy shall be delivered to the defendant without charge. The reporter's fees for preparation of the transcript shall be the same as those prescribed in W.S. 5 3 410, and shall be paid by the county in which the conviction is had.
|
All |
Without financial means with which to obtain the transcript |
At defendant's request before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Copy of original transcript delivered to the defendant without charge |
Add to Dashboard
|
Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-16-204(b) | Representation of needy persons |
(b) Appointed counsel, services and facilities necessary for representation, and court costs shall be provided at public expense to the extent that the person, at the time the court determines need, is unable to provide for their payment.
|
All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Appointed counsel, services and facilities necessary for representation, and court costs shall be provided at public expense |
Add to Dashboard
|
Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14-6-235(c)-(d) | Fees, costs and expenses |
(c) Legal services rendered to a child for his benefit and protection are necessities which the child's parents or any person obligated by law for the child's support may be held responsible. In every case in which a guardian ad litem has been appointed to represent the child under W.S. 14-6-216 or in which counsel has been appointed under W.S. 14-6-222 to represent the child, the child's parents, guardian or other person responsible for the child's support, the court shall determine whether the child, the child's parents, guardian or other person responsible for the child's support is able to pay part or all of the costs of representation and shall enter specific findings on the record. If the court determines that any of the parties is able to pay any amount as reimbursement for costs of representation, the court shall order reimbursement or shall state on the record the reasons why reimbursement was not ordered. The court may also in any case order that all or any part of the costs and expenses enumerated in paragraphs (b)(i), (iii), (iv) and (vii) of this section, be reimbursed to the county by the child, his parents or any person legally obligated for his support, or any of them jointly and severally, upon terms the court may direct. An order for reimbursement of costs made pursuant to this subsection may be enforced as provided in W.S. 14-6-236. Any reimbursement ordered for guardian ad litem services provided pursuant to W.S. 14-12-101 through 14-12-104 shall be apportioned between the county and the guardian ad litem program in accordance with payments made for those services.
|
All | Not provided for | At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Reimbursement for costs of representation; reimbursement for expenses of probation. |
Add to Dashboard
|
Wyoming | Wyo. R. Crim. P. 44(b),(d) | Right to Assignment of Counsel |
(b) Procedure. The procedures for implementing the right set out in subdivision (a) shall be those provided by W.S. 7-6-101 et seq. and by these rules. The appointment of counsel for delinquency cases is governed by W.S. 14-6-222 and, fees, costs and expenses for delinquency cases are governed by W.S. 14-6-235.
(1) The determination of a defendant's eligibility for appointed counsel is a judicial function. An attorney should be appointed at the earliest time after a defendant makes a request, but only after appropriate inquiry into the defendant's financial circumstances and a determination of eligibility. (2) A defendant requesting appointed counsel must submit a financial affidavit or provide sworn testimony on the record detailing income, expenses, assets and liabilities and may be required to update the affidavit or testimony from time to time. (3) The judicial officer shall advise any defendant who has requested appointed counsel that, to the extent of ability to do so, the defendant will be required to contribute to the cost of representation. At the time counsel is appointed, the judicial officer shall determine the defendant's ability to make monthly or other periodic payments and require the defendant to make such payments to the clerk of the court as a condition of the appointment. (4) If at any time after appointment it appears to a judicial officer that a defendant is financially able to make payment, in whole or in part, for legal services, the judicial officer shall require such payments or terminate the appointment. (5) A separate order of appointment shall be entered as part of the record by the court for each defendant. (6) After a hearing, a judicial officer may permit a defendant to withdraw a request for appointed counsel. (7) If appointed counsel obtains information that a client is financially able to make payment in whole or in part for legal services in connection with his or her representation and the source of the attorney's information is not protected as a privileged communication, counsel shall advise the court and ask that the person be required to contribute to the cost of representation or that the appointment be terminated. (8) Appointed counsel shall represent the defendant at every stage from initial appearance through appeal; however, the appellate section of the public defender's office may be substituted for trial counsel to handle an appeal.
|
All |
Indigency - A person is entitled to the appointment of counsel if, at the time counsel is needed, the person is unable to provide for the full payment of an attorney and all other necessary expenses of representation. In making a determination of eligibility, the judicial officer shall consider:
(1) The probable cost of representation given the number and severity of the offenses charged and the factual and legal complexity of the case. (2) The defendant's income from all sources and the defendant's capacity to earn income. (3) The expenses of the defendant's household and whether a spouse or roommate contributes or ought to contribute to those expenses. (4) The defendant's responsibility for the support of others. (5) The defendant's assets whether held individually or with others. (6) The defendant's debts and the periodic payments due on the debts. (7) The defendant's capacity to borrow money. |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Counsel appointed |
The Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder is a project of the National Criminal Justice Debt Initiative of the Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard Law School in collaboration with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University and with user experience design by metaLAB (at) Harvard.
For more information, please visit cjpp.law.harvard.edu.