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.
13 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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Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 534.020 | "Methods of imposing fines; installment payment plan; determination of reason for defendant's default; show cause hearing; certain installment payments not to be reported as liquidated debt" |
(2) If the court establishes an installment payment plan for a defendant to pay the full amount of court costs, fees, or fines: (a) The defendant shall be given notice of the total amount due, the payment frequency, and the date by which all payments must be made. The notice shall indicate that if the defendant has not complied with the installment payment plan by the scheduled date, he or she shall appear on that date to show good cause as to why he or she is unable to satisfy the obligations. This notice shall be given to the defendant in writing on a form provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts;
(3)(a) If a defendant is required to appear at a show cause hearing pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of this section, the court shall determine whether the defendant's default in payment of court costs, fees, or fines is: 1. Excusable due to an inability to pay, and if so, the court may enter an order allowing additional time for payment, reducing the amount of each installment, or modifying the manner of payment in any other way; or 2. Willful and not due to an inability to pay, and if so, the court may order the defendant to jail on the condition that the defendant shall be released upon payment or completion of daily credit pursuant to KRS 534.070. |
All | Not provided for | At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | Yes |
Allowing additional time for payment, reducing the amount of each installment, or modifying the manner of payment in any other way. |
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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 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.
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Administrative decision | Yes |
N/A |
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Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 532.454(5) | Persons prohibited from probation or postincarceration supervision; procedure when probation or postincarceration supervision not prohibited |
(5) The offender shall pay for any evaluation or treatment required pursuant to this section up to the offender's ability to pay but not more than the actual cost of the comprehensive sex offender presentence evaluation or treatment.
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Administrative decision | No |
N/A |
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Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 532.354(1) | Copayment for medical treatment |
(1) A local government may require prisoners to make a reasonable copayment in advance of medical treatment received through a regional jail facility. No prisoner shall be denied medical treatment by reason of indigency, but a prisoner may be required to pay for medical treatment as part of any reimbursement order entered by the sentencing court.
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All |
Indigency |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
N/A |
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Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 532.352 | Reimbursement for costs of incarceration |
(1) The sentencing court may order a person who is sentenced to a term of incarceration for any nonstatus juvenile offense, moving traffic violation, criminal violation, misdemeanor, or Class D felony offense to reimburse the state or local government for the costs of his incarceration. The reimbursements paid under this subsection shall be credited to the local government sinking fund.
(2) The sentencing court shall determine the amount of incarceration costs to be paid based on the following factors: (a) The actual per diem, per person, cost of incarceration; (b) The cost of medical services provided to a prisoner less any copayment paid by the prisoner; and (c) The prisoner's ability to pay all or part of his incarceration costs. |
All |
Not provided for |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
N/A |
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Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 23A.205 | Court costs for criminal cases in Circuit Court; payment required; exceptions |
(1) Court costs for a criminal case in the Circuit Court shall be one hundred dollars ($100). case, shall be mandatory and shall not 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.
(3) If the court finds that the defendant does not meet the standard articulated in subsection (2) of this section and that the defendant is nonetheless unable to pay the full amount of the court costs, fees, or fines at the time of sentencing, then the court may establish an installment payment plan in accordance with KRS 534.020. |
All |
"A poor person" as defined by statute. |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
Fee probation, suspension, proration, deduction, or other form of nonimposition |
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Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 23A.208(3) | Additional fee for sex crime, stalking, or related inchoate offenses |
(3) The court may waive all or any portion of the fee required by this section if the court finds that a person subject to the surcharge is indigent or financially unable to pay all or any portion of the surcharge. The court may waive only the portion of the surcharge that the court finds the person is financially unable to pay.
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All | Not provided for | Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Waive portion of surcharge. |
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Texas | Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 42.037(h) | Restitution |
(h) If a defendant is placed on community supervision or is paroled or released on mandatory supervision, the court or the parole panel shall order the payment of restitution ordered under this article as a condition of community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. The court may revoke community supervision and the parole panel may revoke parole or mandatory supervision if the defendant fails to comply with the order. In determining whether to revoke community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision, the court or parole panel shall consider:
(1) the defendant’s employment status; (2) the defendant’s current and future earning ability; (3) the defendant’s current and future financial resources; (4) the willfulness of the defendant’s failure to pay; (5) any other special circumstances that may affect the defendant’s ability to pay; and (6) the victim’s financial resources or ability to pay expenses incurred by the victim as a result of the offense. |
All |
Consideration of the defendant’s employment status; the defendant’s current and future earning ability; the defendant’s current and future financial resources; the willfulness of the defendant’s failure to pay; any other special circumstances that may affect the defendant’s ability to pay; and the victim’s financial resources or ability to pay expenses incurred by the victim as a result of the offense.
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At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
Will not revoke community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision for failure to pay restitution as a condition. |
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Texas | Fines and Costs(a-1),(c) | Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 42.15 |
(a-1) [2 Versions: As added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., ch. 1127] Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, during or immediately after imposing a sentence in a case in which the defendant entered a plea in open court as provided by Article 27.13, 27.14(a), or 27.16(a), a court shall inquire whether the defendant has sufficient resources or income to immediately pay all or part of the fine and costs. If the court determines that the defendant does not have sufficient resources or income to immediately pay all or part of the fine and costs, the court shall determine whether the fine and costs should be:
(1) subject to Subsection (c), required to be paid at some later date or in a specified portion at designated intervals; (2) discharged by performing community service under, as applicable, Article 43.09(f), Article 45.049, Article 45.0492, as added by Chapter 227 (H.B. 350), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, or Article 45.0492, as added by Chapter 777 (H.B. 1964), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011; (3) waived in full or in part under Article 43.091 or 45.0491; or (4) satisfied through any combination of methods under Subdivisions (1)—(3). (c) When imposing a fine and costs in a misdemeanor case, if the court determines that the defendant is unable to immediately pay the fine and costs, the court shall allow the defendant to pay the fine and costs in specified portions at designated intervals. |
All |
Sufficient resources or income to immediately pay all or part of the fine and costs |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Court may order payment (1) at some later date or in a specified portion at designated intervals, (2) discharged by performing community service, (3) waived in full or in part, or (4) satisfied through any combination of methods (case in which the defendant entered a plea); pay the fine and costs in specified portions at designated intervals (misdemeanor).
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Texas | Tex. Gov't. Code § 76.017(e) | Treatment Alternative to Incarceration Program |
(e) A department may contract for the provision of treatment services. The department may pay for services only if other adequate public or private sources of payment are not available. A person is responsible for the payment of any treatment program recommended under this section if it is determined that a person referred for treatment is able to pay for the costs of treatment or if the person has insurance that will pay for the treatment. If a person is able to pay for treatment or if the person has insurance that will pay for the treatment, the payment may be made a condition for receiving treatment.
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All |
Not provided for |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Administrative decision | No |
Not responsible for treatment program costs. |
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Texas | Tex. Gov't. Code § 79.034(a)(4) | Policies and Standards |
(a) The commission shall develop policies and standards for providing legal representation and other defense services to indigent defendants at trial, on appeal, and in postconviction proceedings. The policies and standards may include:
(4) standards for determining whether a person accused of a crime or juvenile offense is indigent; |
All |
Indigent |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No | Not provided for |
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Texas | Tex. Gov't. Code § 103.021(3-a) | Additional Fees and Costs in Criminal or Civil Cases: Code of Criminal Procedure |
An accused or defendant, or a party to a civil suit, as applicable, shall pay the following fees and costs under the Code of Criminal Procedure if ordered by the court or otherwise required:
(3-a) costs associated with operating a global positioning monitoring system as a condition of release on bond (Art. 17.49(b)(2), Code of Criminal Procedure) ... actual costs, subject to a determination of indigency; |
All |
Indigent |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
Not provided for |
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Texas | Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 42A.655 | Ability to Pay |
The court shall consider the defendant's ability to pay before ordering the defendant to make any payments under this chapter. |
All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No | Not provided for |
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.