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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West Virginia W. Va. Code § 61-11A-5(a) Restitution; procedure for issuing order

(a) The court, in determining whether to order restitution under this article, and in determining the amount of such restitution, shall consider the amount of the loss sustained by any

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victim as a result of the offense, the financial resources of the defendant, the financial needs and earning ability of the defendant and the defendant's dependents, and such factors as the court deems appropriate.

All

… shall consider … the financial resources of the defendant, the financial needs and earning ability of the defendant and the defendant's dependents

Before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge without hearing Yes

No restitution or lower amount of restitution

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West Virginia W. Va. Code § 29-21-16(g)(1)-(4) Determination of maximum income levels; eligibility guidelines; use of form affidavit; inquiry by court; denial of services; repayment; limitation on remedies against affiant

(g) In the circumstances and manner set forth below, circuit judges may order repayment to the state, through the office of the clerk of the circuit court having jurisdiction over the

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proceedings, of the costs of representation provided under this article:

(1) In every case in which services are provided to an indigent person and an adverse judgment has been rendered against such person, the court may require that person, and in juvenile cases, may require the juvenile’s parents or custodian, to pay as costs the compensation of appointed counsel, the expenses of the defense, and any other fees and costs authorized by statute;

(2) The court shall not order a person to pay costs unless the person is able to pay without undue hardship. In determining the amount and method of repayment of costs, the court shall take account of the financial resources of the person, the person’s ability to pay, and the nature of the burden that payment of costs will impose. The fact that the court initially determines, at the time of a case’s conclusion, that it is not proper to order the repayment of costs does not preclude the court from subsequently ordering repayment if the person’s financial circumstances change;

(3) When a person is ordered to repay costs, the court may order payment to be made immediately or within a specified period of time or in specified installments. If a person is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, an order for repayment of costs is not enforceable during the period of imprisonment unless the court expressly finds, at the time of sentencing, that the person has sufficient assets to pay the amounts ordered to be paid or finds there is a reasonable likelihood the person will acquire the necessary assets in the foreseeable future;

(4) A person who has been ordered to repay costs, and who is not in contumacious default in the payment thereof, may at any time petition the sentencing court for modification of the repayment order. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that continued payment of the amount ordered will impose undue hardship on the person or the person’s dependents, the court may modify the method or amount of payment;

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(2) The court shall not order a person to pay costs unless the person is able to pay without undue hardship. In determining the amount and method of repayment of

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costs, the court shall take account of the financial resources of the person, the person's ability to pay and the nature of the burden that payment of costs will impose. The fact that the court initially determines, at the time of a case's conclusion, that it is not proper to order the repayment of costs does not preclude the court from subsequently ordering repayment should the person's financial circumstances change.

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

Court shall not order a person to pay costs; court may order payment to be made immediately or within a specified period of time or in specified installments; 

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West Virginia W. Va. Code § 62-5-10(a) Mandatory cost assessed upon conviction of a felony

Every circuit court shall assess, in every felony criminal matter as a cost to the defendant, an assessment in the sum of seventy-five dollars for each felony count of conviction.

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The assessment referred to herein shall be paid upon adjudication of guilt unless the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay in such a manner in which case payment of the assessment shall be paid prior to final disposition. If the circuit court determines that a defendant is financially unable to pay the assessment prior to final disposition, payment of the assessment shall be a mandatory condition of probation or parole.

Felony

Not provided for

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

No payment prior to final disposition, however, payment shall be a mandatory condition of parole or probation.

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West Virginia W. Va. Code § 62-11A-1a Other sentencing alternatives

(e) A person sentenced under the provisions of this section may be required to pay the costs of his or her incarceration, including meal costs: Provided, That the judge or

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magistrate considers the person's ability to pay the costs.

All

Not provided for

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

May not be required to pay the costs of his or her incarceration, including meal costs.

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West Virginia W. Va. Code § 62-11B-5(7) Requirements for order for home incarceration

(7) A requirement that the offender pay a home incarceration fee set by the circuit court or magistrate. If a magistrate orders home incarceration for an offender, the magistrate shall follow

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a fee schedule established by the supervising circuit judge in setting the home incarceration fee. The magistrate or circuit judge shall consider the person’s ability to pay in determining the imposition and amount of the fee.

All

Not provided for

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

No fee or a lower fee

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West Virginia W. Va. Code § 62-11C-7(a) Supervision or participation fee

A circuit judge, magistrate, municipal court judge or community criminal justice board may require the payment of a supervision or participation fee from any person required to be supervised by

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or participate in a community corrections program. The circuit judge, magistrate, municipal court judge or community criminal justice board shall consider the person's ability to pay in determining the imposition and amount of the fee.

All

Not provided for

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

No fee or lower fee

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West Virginia W. Va. Code § 62-11C-4(b)-(c) Special revenue account

(b) In addition to the fee required in section nine [§ 62-12-9], article twelve of this chapter, a fee not to exceed $35 per month, unless modified by legislative rule as

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provided in section three [§ 62-11C-3] of this article, is also to be collected from those persons on probation. This fee is to be based upon the person’s ability to pay. The magistrate or circuit judge shall conduct a hearing prior to imposition of probation and make a determination on the record that the offender is able to pay the fee without undue hardship. The magistrate clerk, deputy magistrate clerk, magistrate assistant, circuit clerk or deputy circuit clerk shall collect all fees imposed pursuant to this subsection and deposit them in a separate account. Within ten calendar days following the beginning of the calendar month, the magistrate clerk or circuit clerk shall forward the amount deposited to the State Treasurer to be credited to the West Virginia Community Corrections Fund.

(c) In addition to the fee required in section five, article eleven-b of this chapter, a fee of $2.50 per day, unless modified by legislative rule as provided in section three of this article, is to be collected from those persons on home incarceration. The circuit judge, magistrate or municipal court judge shall consider the person's ability to pay in determining the imposition of the fee. The circuit clerk, magistrate clerk, municipal court clerk or his or her designee shall collect all fees imposed pursuant to this subsection and deposit them in a separate account. Within ten calendar days following the beginning of the calendar month, the circuit clerk, magistrate clerk or municipal court clerk shall forward the amount deposited to the State Treasurer to be credited to the West Virginia Community Corrections Fund.

All

Not provided for

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

No fee or lower fee

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West Virginia W. Va. Code § 62-12-26 Extended supervision for certain sex offenders; sentencing; conditions; supervision provisions; supervision fee

(f) The sentencing court may, based upon defendant’s ability to pay, impose a supervision fee to offset the cost of supervision. Said fee shall not exceed $50 per month. Said fee

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may be modified periodically based upon the defendant’s ability to pay.

All

Not provided for

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

No fee or reduced fee; modification of fee.

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West Virginia W. Va. Code § 62-12-9(a)(5)-(6), (b)(1)-(2) Conditions of release on probation

(a) Release on probation is conditioned upon the following: (5) That the probationer pay a fee, not to exceed $20 per month, to defray costs of supervision: Provided, That the court

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conducts a hearing prior to imposition of probation and makes a determination on the record that the offender is able to pay the fee without undue hardship. All moneys collected as fees from probationers pursuant to this subdivision shall be deposited with the circuit clerk who shall, on a monthly basis, remit the moneys collected to the State Treasurer for deposit in the State General Revenue Fund; and (6) That the probationer is required to pay the fee described in section four [§ 62-11C-4], article eleven-c of this chapter: Provided, That the court conducts a hearing prior to imposition of probation and makes a determination on the record that the offender is able to pay the fee without undue hardship.

(b) In addition, the court may impose, subject to modification at any time, any other conditions which it may determine advisable, including, but not limited to, any of the following: (1) That the probationer make restitution or reparation, in whole or in part, immediately or within the period of probation, to any party injured by the crime for which he or she has been convicted: Provided, That the court conducts a hearing prior to imposition of probation and makes a determination on the record that the offender is able to pay restitution without undue hardship; (2) That the probationer pays any fine assessed and the costs of the proceeding in installments directed by the court: Provided, That the court conducts a hearing prior to imposition of probation and makes a determination on the record that the offender is able to pay the costs without undue hardship.

All

Pay the fee without undue hardship

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

No fee or reduced fee