50-State Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder Bringing transparency to areas of significant legal complexity.
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.
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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.
25 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 | |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-30(e) | Conditions of probation and conditional discharge. | If the court finds that the person subject to electronic monitoring is indigent and unable to pay the costs of electronic monitoring services, it shall waive such costs. | All |
indigent and unable to pay the costs |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
The court shall waive such costs |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-56i(g) | Pretrial drug education and community service program. |
No person may be excluded from any such program for inability to pay such fee or cost, provided (1) such person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or + See moreinability to pay, (2) such indigency or inability to pay is confirmed by the Court Support Services Division, and (3) the court enters a finding thereof. The court may waive all or any portion of such fee depending on such persons ability to pay. If the court finds that a person is indigent or unable to pay for a substance abuse treatment program, the costs of such program shall be paid from the pretrial account established under section 54-56k.
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All |
indigency |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | Yes |
costs of such program shall be paid from the pretrial account |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-151 | Cost of transcript and printing on appeal. |
In any appeal in a criminal action, where it appears to the trial court that the accused is without funds with which to defray the costs of securing a transcript + See moreof the evidence, or printing the briefs and the appendices to the briefs, such costs shall be defrayed by the state.
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All |
"without funds with which to defray the costs" |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
costs shall be defrayed by the state |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-696(e) | Order for suspension of prosecution and treatment for alcohol or drug dependency. |
. . . (4) the accused person, unless such accused person is indigent, has paid to the clerk of the court an administration fee of twenty-five dollars. |
All |
indigent |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
waiver of fee |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-696(e) | Order for suspension of prosecution and treatment for alcohol or drug dependency. |
The accused person shall, unless indigent, pay the cost of treatment ordered under this section. |
All |
indigent |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
waiver of cost of treatment |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-56e(e) | Accelerated pretrial rehabilitation |
. . . No person may be excluded from such program for inability to pay such fee, provided (1) such person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, (2) such indigency or inability to pay is confirmed by the Court Support Services Division, and (3) the court enters a finding thereof.
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All |
indigency |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | Yes |
admission to program without paying fees |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-56g(g) | Pretrial alcohol education program (victim impact panel program fees) |
. . . provided such organization shall offer a hardship waiver when it has determined that the imposition of a fee would pose an economic hardship for such person. |
All |
economic hardship |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
hardship waiver |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-56g(c) | Pretrial alcohol education program |
. . . No person may be excluded from either program for inability to pay such fee or cost, provided (1) such person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, (2) such indigency or inability to pay is confirmed by the Court Support Services Division, and (3) the court enters a finding thereof. If the court finds that a person is indigent or unable to pay for a treatment program, the costs of such program shall be paid from the pretrial account established under section 54-56k. If the court finds that a person is indigent or unable to pay for an intervention program, the court may waive all or any portion of the fee for such intervention program.
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All |
indigency |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | Yes |
costs of such program shall be paid from the pretrial account |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-56j(f) | Pretrial school violence prevention program. |
. . . no student shall be excluded from such program for inability to pay such cost provided (1) the parent or guardian of such student files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, and (2) the court enters a finding thereof.
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All |
indigency |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | Yes |
admission to program without paying fees |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-125f(d) | Pilot zero-tolerance drug supervision program. |
. . . if the participant is determined to be indigent, based upon financial affidavits, the Board of Pardons and Paroles shall pay the cost of the test |
All |
indigent, based upon financial affidavits |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Administrative decision | Yes |
Department of Correction shall pay the cost |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-38c(i) | Pretrial family violence education program; fees. |
. . . no person shall be excluded from such program for inability to pay any such fee, provided (1) the person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, and (2) the court enters a finding thereof
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All |
indigency |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | Yes |
admission to program without paying fees |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 18-100e(d) | Pilot zero-tolerance drug supervision program (urinalysis fee) |
(d) Any person who has submitted to a urinalysis drug test pursuant to subsection (c) of this section that produced a positive result may request that a second urinalysis drug test be administered, at such persons expense, to confirm the results of the first test, except that if the participant is determined to be indigent, based upon financial affidavits, the Department of Correction shall pay the cost of the test. The second drug test shall be a urinalysis drug test, separate and independent of the initial test.
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All |
indigent, based upon financial affidavits |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Administrative decision | Yes |
Department of Correction shall pay the cost |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-28(c) | Authorized sentences. |
. . . In determining the appropriate terms of financial restitution, the court shall consider: (A) The financial resources of the offender and the burden restitution will place on other obligations of the offender; (B) the offenders ability to pay based on installments or other conditions; (C) the rehabilitative effect on the offender of the payment of restitution and the method of payment; and (D) other circumstances, including the financial burden and impact on the victim, that the court determines make the terms of restitution appropriate. If the court determines that the current financial resources of the offender or the offenders current ability to pay based on installments or other conditions are such that no appropriate terms of restitution can be determined, the court may forego setting such terms.
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All |
current financial resources of the offender or the offenders current ability to pay based on installments or other conditions are such that no appropriate terms of restitution can be determined |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
The court may forgo setting restitution |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-39c(b) | Community service labor program. |
. . . no person may be excluded from such program for inability to pay such fee, provided (1) such person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, (2) such indigency is confirmed by the Court Support Services Division, and (3) the court enters a finding thereof.
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All |
indigency |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | Yes |
admission to program without paying fees |
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Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. § 17-14-5(e) | Restitution by Juvenile Delinquent; Retention of Jurisdiction to Enforce Order Against Juvenile After Attainment of Age 21; Transfer of Enforcement Jurisdiction; Parent's Obligation for Restitution |
If the court determines that a juvenile is or will be unable to pay all of the restitution ordered, after notice to the juvenile's parent or parents and an opportunity for the parent or parents to be heard, the court may order the parent or parents to pay any portion of the restitution ordered that is outstanding where the court or a jury finds by clear and convincing evidence that the parent or parents knew or should have known of the juvenile's propensity to commit such acts and the acts are due to the parent's or parents' negligence or reckless disregard for the juvenile's propensity to commit such acts. Upon the eighteenth birthday of the juvenile, the parental obligation to pay restitution shall be terminated.
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All |
"Is or will be unable to pay all of the restitution ordered." |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | Yes |
Requiring the juvenile's parent or parents to pay if they are found to be aware of an negligent or reckless in preventing their juvenile's propensity to commit such acts. |
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Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. § 15-10-82 | Hearing Fee on Application for Search or Arrest Warrant or Deposit Account Fraud Citation; No Fee Assessed Against Certain Alleged Victims |
For hearing an application for an arrest or search warrant or deposit account fraud citation, the fee charged shall not exceed $20.00, but this fee may be waived by the issuing magistrate if he or she finds that because of the financial circumstances of the party applying for the warrant or citation or for other reasons this fee should not be charged in justice, provided that no fee shall be assessed against the alleged victim of a violation of Code Section 16-5-90, 16-5-91, 16-6-1, 16-6-2, 16-6-3, 16-6-4, 16-6-5.1, 16-6-22.1, or 16-6-22.2 or against the alleged victim of any domestic violence offense for costs associated with the filing of criminal charges against the stalking offender, sexual offender, or domestic violence offender or for the issuance or service of a warrant, protective order, or witness subpoena arising from the incident of stalking, sexual assault, or domestic violence.
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All |
"Because of the financial circumstances of the party applying for the warrant or citation or for other reasons this fee should not be charged in justice." |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
The court may waive the fee. |
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Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. § 42-8-102(e) | Probation and Supervision; Determination of Fees, Fines, and Restitution; Converting Moneys Owed to Community Service or Educational Advancement; Continuing Jurisdiction; Revocation; Transfer |
(1) As used in this subsection, the term: (A) "Developmental disability" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 37-1-1. (B) "Indigent" means an individual who earns less than 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines unless there is evidence that the individual has other resources that might reasonably be used without undue hardship for such individual or his or her dependents. (C) "Significant financial hardship" means a reasonable probability that an individual will be unable to satisfy his or her financial obligations for two or more consecutive months. (D) "Totally and permanently disabled" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 49-4-80; (2) The court shall waive, modify, or convert fines, statutory surcharges, probation supervision fees, and any other moneys assessed by the court or a provider of probation services upon a determination by the court prior to or subsequent to sentencing that a defendant has a significant financial hardship or inability to pay or that there are any other extenuating factors which prohibit payment or collection; provided, however, that the imposition of sanctions for failure to pay such sums shall be within the discretion of the court through judicial process or hearings; (3) Unless rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence that a defendant will be able to satisfy his or her financial obligations without undue hardship to the defendant or his or her dependents, a defendant shall be presumed to have a significant financial hardship if he or she: (A) Has a developmental disability; (B) Is totally and permanently disabled; (C) Is indigent; or (D) Has been released from confinement within the preceding 12 months and was incarcerated for more than 30 days before his or her release.
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"'Indigent; means an individual who earns less than 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines unless there is evidence that the individual has other resources that might reasonably be used without undue hardship for such individual or his or her dependents; 'Significant financial hardship' means a reasonable probability that an individual will be unable to satisfy his or her financial obligations for two or more consecutive months."
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Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | Yes |
The court must either reduce the fine, fee or surcharge to an amount the defendant can pay, or convert it to community service. |
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Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. § 17-14-10 | Factors to be Considered by Ordering Authority in Determining Nature and Amount of Restitution |
(a) In determining the nature and amount of restitution, the ordering authority shall consider: (1) The financial resources and other assets of the offender or person ordered to pay restitution including whether any of the assets are jointly controlled; (2) The earnings and other income of the offender or person ordered to pay restitution; (3) Any financial obligations of the offender or person ordered to pay restitution, including obligations to dependents; (4) The amount of damages; (5) The goal of restitution to the victim and the goal of rehabilitation of the offender; (6) Any restitution previously made; (7) The period of time during which the restitution order will be in effect; and (8) Other factors which the ordering authority deems to be appropriate; (b) If, subsequent to restitution being ordered pursuant to this article, a victim is convicted of a crime for which restitution is ordered, the ordering authority shall consider the previously ordered restitution as part of the financial resources of such victim.
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All | Not provided for | At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Other | Yes | Not provided for |
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Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. § 42-8-105(f) | Probationer Obligation to Keep Officer Informed of Certain Information; Tolling for Failure to Meet Certain Obligations; Procedure |
Any unpaid fines, restitution, or other moneys owed as a condition of probation shall be due when the probationer is arrested; provided, however, that if the entire balance of his or her probation is revoked, all the conditions of probation, including moneys owed, shall be negated by his or her imprisonment. If only part of the balance of the probation is revoked, the court shall determine the probationer's responsibility for the amount of the unpaid fines, restitution, and other moneys owed that shall be imposed upon his or her return to probation after release from imprisonment and may reduce arrearages under the same circumstances and conditions as set forth in subsection (f) of Code Section 42-8-102.
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All | Not provided for | At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | Yes | Not provided for |
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Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-299.2(C) | Local alcohol safety action program - ability to pay |
If the referral is to the local alcohol safety action program, the program may charge a fee for the education and intervention component, or both, not to exceed $300, based + See moreupon the defendant's ability to pay.
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
Not specified |
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.