Ability to Pay

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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
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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 534.030(2) Fines for felonies

(2) In determining the amount and method of paying a fine for commission of a felony, the court shall consider, among others, the following factors: (a) The defendant's ability to

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pay the amount of the fine; (b) The hardship likely to be imposed on the defendant's dependents by the amount of the fine and the time and method of paying it; (c) The impact the amount of the fine will have on the defendant's ability to make reparation or restitution to the victim; and (d) The amount of the defendant's gain, if any, derived from the commission of the offense.

Felony Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing Yes

Not specified

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 534.045(1)-(3) Assessment of reimbursement fee against jail prisoners; collection; fee determination; relevant evidence; modification

(1) Pursuant to a conviction of a misdemeanor, including traffic offenses, where a person is sentenced to incarceration in the county jail, the District Court may assess a reimbursement fee

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to help defray the expenses of the prisoner's room and board. The reimbursement fee shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the prisoner's gross daily wages or forty dollars ($40) per day, whichever is less. All moneys shall be paid directly to the jailer.

(2) In determining whether a reimbursement fee as described in subsection (1) of this section is to be assessed, and in establishing the amount of the fee, the court shall consider evidence relevant to the prisoner's ability to pay the fee . . . 

(3) After considering all relevant evidence to the issue of the prisoner's ability to pay, the court shall enter as part of its judgment the amount of the reimbursement fee, if any, that shall be paid by the prisoner during his period of incarceration in the county jail. The fee shall bear a reasonable relationship to the person's income. Upon petition by the prisoner affected by the order, the amount may be modified to reflect any changes in the financial status of the prisoner. In any appeal that might be taken from the conviction, the amount of the reimbursement fee may be challenged.

All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Not specified

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 510.320(2)-(3),(6) Human immunodeficiency virus testing for defendants accused of certain sexual offenses; results; counseling when test positive; cost; effect of appeal

(2) A defendant charged with an offense pursuant to this chapter which has sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse as an element, or has sexual contact as an element when

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the circumstances of the case demonstrate a possibility of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, shall upon initial court appearance on the charge, be informed by the judge of the availability of human immunodeficiency virus testing. The judge shall also notify the victim of the offense, or parent or guardian of the victim, that the defendant has been so notified.

(3) When a defendant has been convicted of any offense in subsection (2) of this section, other provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the sentencing court, regardless of any prior human immunodeficiency virus test, shall order the defendant to undergo a human immunodeficiency virus test, under the direction of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services...

(6) The cost of testing under this section shall be paid by the defendant tested, unless the court has determined the defendant to be indigent.

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Indigency

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing Yes

Not specified

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 31.211(1)
Determination of ability to pay partial fee for representation and services at arraignment; collection of unpaid partial fee by civil judgment; partial fee credited to local office or department; funds
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placed in special trust and agency account

At arraignment, the court shall conduct a nonadversarial hearing to determine whether a person who has requested a public defender is able to pay a partial fee for legal representation,

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the other necessary services and facilities of representation, and court costs. The court shall order payment in an amount determined by the court and may order that the payment be made in a lump sum or by installment payments to recover money for representation provided under this chapter. This partial fee determination shall be made at each stage of the proceedings.

All

Not provided for

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

If the court finds that an individual is unable to pay (is "needy") the court shall waive all costs, see Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 31.110

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 24A.175 Court costs for criminal cases in District Court; payment required; exceptions; treatment of minor defendant

The taxation of court costs against a defendant, upon conviction in a case, including persons sentenced to state traffic school as provided under KRS 186.574, shall be mandatory and shall not

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be subject to probation, suspension, proration, deduction, or other form of nonimposition in the terms of a plea bargain or otherwise, unless the court finds that the defendant is a poor person as defined by KRS 453.190(2) and that he or she is unable to pay court costs and will be unable to pay the court costs in the foreseeable future.

All

Not provided for

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Not specified

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 441.265(5) "Required reimbursement by prisoner of costs of confinement; local policy of fee and expense rates; billing and collection methods"

(5) The governing body of the county may require a prisoner who is confined in the county jail to pay a reasonable fee, not exceeding actual cost, for any medical

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treatment or service received by the prisoner. However, no prisoner confined in the jail shall be denied any necessary medical care because of inability to pay.

All

Not provided for

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Administrative decision Yes

N/A

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Ohio Ohio Rev. Code § 2929.19(B)(5) Sentencing hearing

Before imposing a financial sanction under section 2929.18 of the Revised Code or a fine under section 2929.32 of the Revised Code, the court shall consider the offender's present and future ability to

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pay the amount of the sanction or fine.

Felony

Not provided for

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing Yes

Likely no requirement to pay financial sanction

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Ohio Ohio Rev. Code § 2929.37(A) Policy requiring prisoner to pay costs of confinement

The amount assessed under this section shall not exceed the total amount that the prisoner is able to pay.

All

Not provided for

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Likely no requirement to pay costs of confinement

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Ohio Ohio Rev. Code § 2941.51(D) Person represented shall pay for part of costs if able

The fees and expenses approved by the court under this section shall not be taxed as part of the costs and shall be paid by the county. However, if the person represented

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has, or reasonably may be expected to have, the means to meet some part of the cost of the services rendered to the person, the person shall pay the county an amount that the person reasonably can be expected to pay.

All

Not provided for.

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes

County will pay representation fees in-full or in part.