Ability to Pay

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.

9 Results

Export results to Excel

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
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Alabama Ala.Code 1975 § 12-23-7 Drug testing program

Any person who fails to complete treatment and pay for it shall be charged with violation of probation or parole; provided, however, that indigents shall not be required to pay

+ See more
for treatment or monitoring provided by court referral officers.

All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes Not provided for
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Alabama Ala.Code 1975 §15-22-2(a)(1) Payment of costs of supervision.

(a)(1) Any person who is placed on parole by the Board of Pardons and Paroles or any person who is granted probation by a court of competent jurisdiction and who

+ See more
is subject to supervision by the Board of Pardons and Paroles and who has an income shall be required to contribute forty dollars ($40) per month toward the cost of his or her supervision and rehabilitation beginning 30 days from the date he or she has an income. The sum shall be deducted by the parolee or probationer from his or her monthly income and delivered to the Board of Pardons and Paroles each month for deposit in the General Fund of the State Treasury. By prior agreement between an employer and employee, an employer may deduct forty dollars ($40) from the monthly net earned income of the parolee or probationer and remit the amount to the Board of Pardons and Paroles each month. The responsibility of assuring the contribution shall remain that of the parolee or probationer. Exemptions from payments required by this section may be granted for undue hardship on a case by case basis by the sentencing court in probation and the Board of Pardons and Paroles in parole cases.

Misdemeanor, Felony

Undue hardship

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Exemption from payment

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Tennessee Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(b)(2) Assault - Domestic Abuse
if the relationship between the defendant and the victim of the assault is such that the victim is a domestic abuse victim as defined in § 36-3-601, and if, as
+ See more
determined by the court, the defendant possesses the ability to pay a fine in an amount not in excess of two hundred dollars ($200), then the court shall impose a fine at the level of the defendant's ability to pay, but not in excess of two hundred dollars ($200).
Misdemeanor

No definition of ability to pay is provided. However, in imposing fines, courts must consider the defendant's ability to pay, prior criminal history, potential for rehabilitation, financial means, and other

+ See more
mitigating and enhancing factors.

Before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Imposition of a lower fee

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Tennessee Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-102(e)(2) Aggravated Assault - Domestic Abuse
In addition to any other punishment that may be imposed for a violation of this section, if the relationship between the defendant and the victim of the assault is such
+ See more
that the victim is a domestic abuse victim as defined in § 36-3-601, and if, as determined by the court, the defendant possesses the ability to pay a fine in an amount not in excess of two hundred dollars ($200), then the court shall impose a fine at the level of the defendant's ability to pay, but not in excess of two hundred dollars ($200).
All

No definition of ability to pay is provided. However, in imposing fines, courts must consider the defendant's ability to pay, prior criminal history, potential for rehabilitation, financial means, and other

+ See more
mitigating and enhancing factors.

Before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Imposition of a lower fee

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Tennessee Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-111(c)(5) Domestic Assault - Additional Fee
In addition to any other punishment that may be imposed for a violation of this section, if, as determined by the court, the defendant possesses the ability to pay a
+ See more
fine in an amount not in excess of two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225), then the court shall impose a fine at the level of the defendant's ability to pay, but not in excess of two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225).
All

No definition of ability to pay is provided. However, in imposing fines, courts must consider the defendant's ability to pay, prior criminal history, potential for rehabilitation, financial means, and other

+ See more
mitigating and enhancing factors.

Before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Imposition of a lower fee

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Tennessee Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-428(d) Fines and Penalties; Mandatory Minimums; Allocation
(1) Unless the judge, using the applicable criteria set out in § 40-14-202(c), determines that a person convicted of violating this section is indigent, or that payment of the minimum
+ See more
fine would result in a severe economic hardship, or such fine would otherwise not be in the interests of justice, the minimum fines imposed by this section shall be mandatory and shall not be reduced, suspended, waived or otherwise released by the court. No plea agreement shall be accepted by a court if the agreement attempts to reduce or suspend all or any portion of the mandatory fines imposed by this section unless the judge determines that one (1) of the conditions set out in the first sentence of this subdivision (d)(1) exists.(2) If the judge of a court of general sessions determines that it is necessary to reduce, suspend, waive or otherwise release the minimum fines imposed by this section, the judge shall assess the fine, and write on the warrant the amount of the fine, the fact that it is reduced, suspended, waived or released and the reasons for the reduction, suspension, waiver or release. If done by the judge of a court of record, the judge shall assess the fine and make a specific finding of fact on the record relative to the reduction, suspension, waiver or release and the reasons for the reduction, suspension, waiver or release.
All

No definition of ability to pay is provided. However, in imposing fines, courts must consider the defendant's ability to pay, prior criminal history, potential for rehabilitation, financial means, and other

+ See more
mitigating and enhancing factors.

Not provided for Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Reduction or waiver of the fee

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Tennessee Tenn. Code Ann. § 41-2-128(5) Prisoners who may apply for release -- Procedure.
(5)(A) The judge shall, at the time of sentencing, cause the sentencing order to reflect the defendant's cost of incarceration and treatment and shall affix to the order, taking into
+ See more
consideration the defendant's ability to pay, the time and manner in which the costs are to be paid. The court shall enter the necessary orders requiring that the costs of incarceration and treatment be paid or secured, including, but not limited to, orders of probation that include, as a condition thereof, the payment of costs covered by this subdivision (c)(5).(B) When a defendant alleges inability to pay pursuant to the terms set out by the order, the defendant may petition the court for modification as to the terms of payment. When it is determined that the defendant is unable to pay the entirety of the costs covered by this subdivision (c)(5) in the time and manner imposed by the court, any costs imposed against the defendant shall be pursuant to a schedule promulgated by the chief administrative officer of the county, or the officer's designee, with the schedule to be based upon the defendant's ability to pay the same.(C) In promulgating the schedule governing costs and the amount thereof to be paid by the defendant, the chief administrative officer of the county, or the officer's designee, shall consider the defendant's ability to pay and the disbursement schedule set forth in § 41-2-129 and shall incorporate payments ordered in this subsection (c) into the schedule.(D) In no event shall a person be denied access to this program or be denied discharge from incarceration as a result of that person's inability to pay.
All Not provided for Not provided for Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Not provided for Yes

Reduction or waiver of the fee

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Tennessee Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-401(m) Fees for particular services
(m) Indigent parties. No clerk shall be permitted to collect any fee authorized by this section without permitting any person the opportunity to institute a cause of action by means
+ See more
of a pauper's oath, in accordance with Rule 29 of the Rules of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Not provided for Yes

Not specified

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Tennessee Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-15-105(a)(2)(F) Memoranda of Understanding
(a)(2) Prosecution of the defendant shall not be suspended unless the parties in the memorandum of understanding also agree that the defendant observe one (1) or more of the following
+ See more
conditions during the period in which the prosecution is suspended: . . . (F) That the defendant pay, in addition to the payment of ten dollars ($10.00) per month required by this section, any or all additional costs of the defendant's supervision, counseling or treatment in a specified manner based upon the defendant's ability to pay;
All Not provided for Not provided for Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Not provided for Yes

Reduction or waiver of the fee