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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Maine Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17-A § 1807(6) Conditions of probation

The court shall attach as a condition of probation that the person pay, through the Department of Corrections, a supervision fee of between $10 and $50 per month, as determined

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by the court, for the term of probation. If the court does not set a supervision fee, the supervision fee is $10 per month. Notwithstanding the attachment of supervision fee conditions on more than one sentence, a person on probation on concurrent sentences is required to pay only one supervision fee. In determining whether to set an amount higher than $10 per month, the court shall take into account the financial resources of the person and the nature of the burden its payment imposes. A person may not be sentenced to imprisonment without probation solely for the reason the person is not able to pay the fee. 

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financial resources and nature of burden

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

may allow additional time

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Maine Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17-A §1807(7) Conditions of probation

7. Electronic monitoring and substance testing fees; determination of amount by court; failure to pay; use of fees. Upon the request of the Department of Corrections, the court shall attach as

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a condition of probation that the person pay, through the department, an electronic monitoring fee, a substance testing fee or both, as determined by the court, for the term of probation. In determining the amount of the fees, the court shall take into account the financial resources of the person and the nature of the burden the payment imposes. A person may not be sentenced to imprisonment without probation solely for the reason the person is not able to pay the fees. 

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Financial resources and nature of burden

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

Reduced fine

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Maine Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17-A §1702 Criteria for imposing sentencing alternative that includes fine

1. Consideration of financial capacity to pay and financial burden. In determining the amount of a fine, unless the fine amount is mandatory, and in determining the method of payment of

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a fine, the court shall take into account the present and future financial capacity of the convicted person to pay the fine and the nature of the financial burden that payment of the fine will impose on the person or a dependent, if any, of the person.

2. Burden of proving financial hardship or incapacity to pay. A convicted person who asserts a present or future incapacity to pay a fine or asserts that the fine will cause an excessive financial hardship on the person or on a dependent of the person has the burden of proving the incapacity or excessive hardship by a preponderance of the evidence. On appeal of a sentencing alternative involving a fine, the person has the burden of demonstrating that the incapacity or excessive financial hardship was proven as a matter of law.

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By preponderance of evidence that fine would cause excessive financial hardship on offender or dependent

Before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge after hearing No Not provided for
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Maine Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17-A §2005(2)(D) Criteria for restitution

D. When the amount and method of payment of monetary restitution or the performance of service restitution creates an excessive financial hardship on the offender or dependent of the offender.

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In making this determination, all relevant factors must be considered, including, but not limited to the following:(1) The number of the offender's dependents; (2) The minimum living expenses of the offender and the offender's dependents; (3) The special needs of the offender and the offender's dependents, including necessary travel expense to and from work; (4) The offender's present income and potential future earning capacity; and (5) The offender's resources, from whatever source.

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excessive financial hardship on offender or dependents

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No Not provided for
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Maine Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17-A §1751(1)-(2) County jail reimbursement fee

1. Assessment of reimbursement fee. When an individual is sentenced to incarceration in a county jail, the sentencing court shall consider and may assess as part of the sentence a jail

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reimbursement fee, referred to in this section as “the reimbursement fee,” to help defray the expenses of the individual's room and board.

2. Evidence. The court, in determining whether a reimbursement fee as set out in subsection 1 is to be assessed and in establishing the amount of that fee, shall consider evidence relevant to the individual's ability to pay that fee, including, but not limited to, the factors set forth in section 2005, subsection 2, paragraph D, subparagraphs (1) to (5). The court may not consider as evidence the following: A. Joint ownership, if any, that the individual may have in real property; B. Joint ownership, if any, that the individual may have in any assets, earnings or other sources of income; and C. The income, assets, earnings or other property, both real and personal, owned by the individual's spouse or family.

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excessive financial hardship on offender or dependents

Not provided for Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes Not provided for
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Maine Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17-A §1854(2)(A) Requirements of administrative release

In determining the amount of the fee, the court shall take into account the financial resources of the person and the nature of the burden its payment imposes.

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Financial resources and nature of burden

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No Not provided for
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Maine Me. R. of Unified Crim. P. 44(b) Right to and Assignment of Counsel

(b) Determination of Indigency. The court shall determine whether a defendant has sufficient means with which to employ counsel and in making such determination may examine the defendant under oath concerning

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the defendant's financial resources. A defendant does not have sufficient means with which to employ counsel if the defendant's lack of resources effectively prevents the defendant from retaining the services of competent counsel. In making its determination the court shall consider the following factors: the defendant's income, the defendant's credit standing, the availability and convertibility of any assets owned by the defendant, the living expenses of the defendant and the defendant's dependents, the defendant's outstanding obligations, the financial resources of the defendant's parents if the defendant is an unemancipated minor residing with his or her parents, and the cost of retaining the services of competent counsel.

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sufficient means with which to employ counsel

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

Court appointed counsel free of costs

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Maine Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17-A §1902(1) Deferred disposition

1. Authority of court to order deferment and impose requirements; administrative supervision fee. Following the acceptance of a plea of guilty for a crime for which a person is eligible for

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a deferred disposition under section 1901, the court may order sentencing deferred to a date certain or determinable and impose requirements upon the person, to be in effect during the period of deferment, considered by the court to be reasonable and appropriate to assist the person to lead a law-abiding life. The court-imposed deferment requirements must include a requirement that the person refrain from criminal conduct and may include a requirement that the person pay to the appropriate county an administrative supervision fee of not more than $50 per month, as determined by the court, for the term of the deferment. In determining the amount of the fee, the court shall take into account the financial resources of the person and the nature of the burden its payment imposes. In exchange for the deferred sentencing, the person shall abide by the court-imposed deferment requirements. Unless the court orders otherwise, the requirements are immediately in effect.

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The financial resources of the person and the nature of the burden its payment imposes.

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing No Not provided for
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Maine Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17-A § 1607 Prohibition against imprisonment based on incapacity to pay fine

If a court finds that an individual has met the burden of proving incapacity to pay a fine pursuant to section 1702, subsection 2, the court may not impose a

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term of imprisonment or any other sentencing alternative involving imprisonment solely for the reason that the individual does not have the present or future capacity to pay the fine.

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Not provided for

At enforcement of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Not provided for No Not provided for
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Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws. Ann. § 12-20-10(b) Remission of costs -- Prohibition against remitting restitution to victims of crime -- Ability to pay -- Indigency

(b)  For purposes of §§ 12-18.1-3(d), 12-21-20, 12-25-28(b), 21-28-4.01(c)(3)(iv) and 21-28-4.17.1, the following conditions shall be prima facie evidence of the defendant's indigency and limited ability to pay:

(1)  Qualification for and/or receipt of any of the following benefits

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or services by the defendant: (i)  temporary assistance to needy families (ii)  social security including supplemental security income and state supplemental payments program; (iii)  public assistance (iv)  disability insurance; or (v)  food stamps

(2)  Despite the defendant's good faith efforts to pay, outstanding court orders for payment in the amount of one-hundred dollars ($ 100) or more for any of the following: (i)  restitution payments to the victims of crime; (ii)  child support payments; or (iii)  payments for any counseling required as a condition of the sentence imposed including, but not limited to, substance abuse, mental health, and domestic violence.

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Indigency; Qualification for and/or receipt of temporary assistance to needy families, social security including supplemental security income and state supplemental payments program, public assistance, disability insurance; or food stamps; outstanding court orders for

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payment in the amount of one-hundred dollars ($ 100) or more for restitution payments to the victims of crime, child support payments; or payments for any counseling required as a condition of the sentence imposed including, but not limited to, substance abuse, mental health, and domestic violence.

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

N/A

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Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws. Ann. § 12-21-20 Order to pay costs and determination of ability to pay

(a) If, upon any complaint or prosecution before any court, the defendant shall be ordered to pay a fine, enter into a recognizance or suffer any penalty or forfeiture, he or

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she shall also be ordered to pay all costs of prosecution, unless directed otherwise by law.

(b) In superior court, the judge shall make a preliminary assessment of the defendant's ability to pay immediately after sentencing by use of the procedures specified in this section.

(c) In district court, the judge shall make a preliminary assessment of the defendant's ability to pay immediately after sentencing or nearly thereafter as practicable by use of the procedures specified in this section.

(d) The defendant's ability to pay and payment schedule shall be determined by use of standardized procedures including a financial assessment instrument. The financial assessment instrument shall be: (1) based upon sound and generally accepted accounting principles; (2) completed based on a personal interview of the defendant and includes any and all relevant information relating to the defendant's present ability to pay including, but not limited to, the information contained in § 12-20-10; and (3) made by the defendant under oath.

(e) The financial instrument may, from time to time and after hearing, be modified by the court.

(f) When persons come before the court for failure to pay fines, fees, assessments and other costs of prosecution, or court ordered restitution, and their ability to pay and payment schedule has not been previously determined, the judge, the clerk of the court, or their designee shall make these determinations by use of the procedures specified in this section.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the court's ability, after hearing in open court, to revise findings about a person's ability to pay and payment schedule made by the clerk of the court or designee, based upon the receipt of newly available, relevant, or other information.

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Not provided for

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

N/A

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Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws. Ann. § 12-19-32 Restitution

In addition to or in lieu of any non-mandatory sanction imposed as part of a sentence or as a condition of probation, a judge at the time of sentencing may

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order restitution which may be in the form of monetary payment or some type of community restitution. Provided, that any person sentenced to a period of incarceration at the adult correctional institutions shall be ineligible to participate in those programs established pursuant to chapter 8 of title 13, sections 42-56-20.2, 42-56-20.3 or 42-56-21, unless and until the restitution has been paid in full, or satisfactory arrangements have been made with the court if the person has the ability to pay. 

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Not provided for

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

Able to participate in programs without satisfying restitution payments.