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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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the comprehensive sex offender presentence evaluation or treatment.

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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. § 534.040 Fines for misdemeanors and violations

(4) Fines required by this section shall not be imposed upon any person determined by the court to be indigent pursuant to KRS Chapter 31.

Misdemeanor

Indigent

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing No Not provided for
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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

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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.

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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Wyoming Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-9-102 Order to pay upon conviction

In addition to any other punishment prescribed by law the court shall, upon conviction for any misdemeanor or felony, order a defendant to pay restitution to each victim as determined

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under W.S. 7 9 103 and 7 9 114 unless the court specifically finds that the defendant has no ability to pay and that no reasonable probability exists that the defendant will have an ability to pay.

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Not provided for

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

Restituion not ordered

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Wyoming Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-6-106 Determination of need; reimbursement for services

(a) The determination of whether a person covered by W.S. 7 6 104 is a needy person shall be deferred until his first appearance in court or in a suit

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for payment or reimbursement under W.S. 7 6 108, whichever occurs earlier. Thereafter, the court shall determine, with respect to each proceeding, whether he is a needy person. For purposes of this section, an appeal, probation revocation or proceeding to correct or modify a sentence is a separate proceeding. The determination of need shall be based on a separate application submitted at the time of each proceeding.

(b) In determining whether a person is a needy person and in determining the extent of his inability to pay, and, in the case of an unemancipated minor, the inability to pay of his custodial parent or another person who has a legal obligation of support, the court shall consider the standards set forth in Rule 44(d), Wyoming Rules of Criminal Procedure. Release on bail does not necessarily prevent a person from being determined to be needy. In each case the person, subject to the penalties for perjury, shall certify in writing, or by other record, the material factors relating to his ability to pay as the court prescribes.

(c) In every case in which a person has received services under W.S. 7 6 104, the presiding judge shall determine whether the person or, in the case of an unemancipated minor, his custodial parent or any other person who has a legal obligation of support, is able to provide any funds towards payment of part or all of the cost associated with such services. If the person or, in the case of an unemancipated minor, his custodial parent or any other person who has a legal obligation of support, is not able to provide any funds towards payment of costs, the court shall enter a specific finding on the record. If the court determines the person or, in the case of an unemancipated minor, his custodial parent or any other person who has a legal obligation of support, is able to provide any amount as reimbursement, the court shall order the person or, in the case of an unemancipated minor, his custodial parent or any other person who has a legal obligation of support, to reimburse the state for all or part of the costs of the services provided or shall state on the record the reasons why an order for reimbursement was not entered. Where a person is initially provided with counsel pursuant to W.S. 7 6 105(a), but subsequently retains private counsel, the court may order the person to reimburse the state for the services already provided. All reimbursements under this act shall be made through the clerk of court.

(d) The state public defender shall report in the agency's annual report concerning: (i) The number of cases by court in which an attorney was appointed to represent a person at public expense under this act during the preceding calendar quarter; (ii) For each case in which an attorney was appointed, whether the court ordered reimbursement under this section or, if reimbursement was not ordered, whether the court complied with subsection (c) of this section; (iii) For the guardian ad litem program, the number of cases, the amount of monies expended and the amounts of reimbursements from participating counties.

(e) If the court orders release on bail pending trial or appeal, probation before sentence, suspended sentence or probation, the court shall order the needy person as a condition of bail, sentence or probation to repay the state for expenses and services provided by appointed attorneys pursuant to the state public defender's standard fee schedule if the court determines the defendant has an ability to pay or that a reasonable probability exists that the defendant will have an ability to pay.

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Wyo. R. Crim. P. 44(d): In making a determination of eligibility, the judicial officer shall consider: (1) The probable cost of representation given the number and severity of the offenses

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charged and the factual and legal complexity of the case. (2) The defendant's income from all sources and the defendant's capacity to earn income. (3) The expenses of the defendant's household and whether a spouse or roommate contributes or ought to contribute to those expenses. (4) The defendant's responsibility for the support of others. (5) The defendant's assets whether held individually or with others. (6) The defendant's debts and the periodic payments due on the debts. (7) The defendant's capacity to borrow money. Uncertainty as to a defendant's eligibility for appointed counsel should be resolved in the defendant's favor. An erroneous determination of eligibility may be corrected at any time.

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

N/A

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Wyoming Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-9-103(c) Determination of amount owed; execution

The court shall order the defendant to pay all or part of the restitution claimed or shall state on the record specific reasons why an order for restitution was not

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entered. If the court determines that the defendant has no ability to pay and that no reasonable probability exists that the defendant will have an ability to pay in the future, the court shall enter specific findings in the record supporting its determination.

All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing Yes Not provided for
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Wyoming Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-11-505 Payment of costs of prosecution

Payment of the costs of prosecution may be added to and made a part of the sentence in any felony or misdemeanor case if the court determines that the defendant

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has an ability to pay or that a reasonable probability exists that the defendant will have an ability to pay.

All

Not provided for

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

Payment of the costs of prosecution not added to and made a part of the sentence in any felony or misdemeanor case

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Wyoming Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-13-109(a) Payment of jail costs by inmate

(a) In addition to any other punishment prescribed by law, the sentencing court may require a person sentenced to confinement in county jail, for any offense, to pay the jail

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facility the costs of room and board for each day of incarceration, both before and after conviction. The costs for room and board for each day of incarceration shall be an amount equal to the actual cost of the services as determined by the county sheriff. The cost of the services shall be paid to all jail facilities where the inmate may have been held before and after conviction. The costs shall not be assessed if:

(i) The court finds that the defendant has no ability to pay and that no reasonable probability exists that the defendant will have an ability to pay; or

(ii) In the judgment of the court, the costs would impose a manifest hardship on the inmate, or the property of the inmate is needed for the maintenance and support of the inmate's family.

All

Costs would impose a manifest hardship on the inmate, or the property of the inmate is needed for the maintenance and support of the inmate's family

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

Costs for room and board for each day of incarceration not imposed.

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Wyoming Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-40-119(c) Surcharge to be assessed in certain criminal cases; paid to account

Under no circumstances shall a court fail to impose the surcharge required by subsections (a) and (b) of this section if the court determines the defendant has an ability to

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pay or that a reasonable probability exists that the defendant will have an ability to pay.

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Not provided for

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

Surcharge not imposed

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Wyoming Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-13-1616 Surcharge to be assessed in certain criminal cases; paid to account Currentness

(c) The court may waive the surcharge if the person is unable to pay the surcharge or for any other good cause shown. The court shall consider all other financial

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obligations imposed on the defendant and set the surcharge so as not to create an undue financial burden on the defendant.

All

Undue financial burden on the defendant

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

Surcharge waiver, modification of surcharge.

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Wyoming Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-16-204(b) Representation of needy persons

(b) Appointed counsel, services and facilities necessary for representation, and court costs shall be provided at public expense to the extent that the person, at the time the court determines

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need, is unable to provide for their payment.

All

Not provided for

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing No

Appointed counsel, services and facilities necessary for representation, and court costs shall be provided at public expense