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.
Every law can be saved to the Reform Builder
See all ability to pay policy recommendations in CJPP’s Policy Guide
State
- Alabama (12)
- Alaska (8)
- Arizona (5)
- Arkansas (8)
- California (90)
- Colorado (29)
- Connecticut (19)
- Delaware (4)
- Florida (36)
- Georgia (14)
- Hawaii (14)
- Idaho (15)
- Illinois (23)
- Indiana (15)
- Iowa (12)
- Kansas (6)
- Kentucky (17)
- Louisiana (10)
- Maine (9)
- Maryland (3)
- Massachusetts (39)
- Michigan (17)
- Minnesota (14)
- Mississippi (8)
- (-) Missouri (15)
- Montana (29)
- Nebraska (14)
- Nevada (7)
- New Hampshire (29)
- New Jersey (9)
- New Mexico (14)
- New York (8)
- North Carolina (14)
- North Dakota (14)
- Ohio (32)
- Oklahoma (10)
- Oregon (13)
- Pennsylvania (6)
- Rhode Island (3)
- South Carolina (17)
- (-) South Dakota (10)
- Tennessee (11)
- Texas (17)
- Utah (5)
- Vermont (9)
- Virginia (10)
- Washington (15)
- Washington DC (5)
- West Virginia (16)
- Wisconsin (7)
- Wyoming (17)
Keyword search
Reset
Reset all filtersTimeline
Burden of proof
Method of determination
Narrrow results
Level of Offense
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 557.011 | Authorized dispositions |
In the event a sentence of confinement is ordered executed, a court may order that an individual serve all or any portion of such sentence on electronic monitoring; except that all costs associated with the electronic monitoring shall be charged to the person on house arrest. If the judge finds the person unable to afford the costs associated with electronic monitoring, the judge may order that the person be placed on house arrest with electronic monitoring if the county commission agrees to pay the costs of such monitoring. If the person on house arrest is unable to afford the costs associated with electronic monitoring and the county commission does not agree to pay from the general revenue of the county the costs of such electronic monitoring, the judge shall not order that the person be placed on house arrest with electronic monitoring.
|
All |
Unable to afford costs |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Payment by county |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 559.021(6) | Conditions of probation--compensation of victims--free work, public or charitable--defendant not an employee for workers’ compensation purposes--payment to county restitution fund, when |
A defendant who fails to make a payment to a county law enforcement restitution fund may not have his or her probation revoked solely for failing to make such payment unless the judge, after evidentiary hearing, makes a finding supported by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant either willfully refused to make the payment or that the defendant willfully, intentionally, and purposefully failed to make sufficient bona fide efforts to acquire the resources to pay.
|
All |
Not provided for |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Burden on government to show ability to pay | Determined by judge after hearing | Yes |
Probation not revoked |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 479.260(1) | Court costs and fees, judicial education fund, purpose, administration |
Municipalities by ordinance may provide for fees in an amount per case to be set pursuant to sections 488.010 to 488.020 for each municipal ordinance violation case filed before a municipal judge, and in the event a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty, the judge may assess costs against the defendant except in those cases where the defendant is found by the judge to be indigent and unable to pay the costs.
|
All |
Indigent |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | Yes |
Fees not assessed. |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 600.090(1) | Determination of ability to pay all or part of representation costs--lien for reasonable value of services, procedure--deposit of funds collected |
If a person is determined to be eligible for the services provided by the state public defender system and if, at the time such determination is made, he is able to provide a limited cash contribution toward the cost of his representation without imposing a substantial hardship upon himself or his dependents, such contribution shall be required as a condition of his representation by the state public defender system.
|
All |
Able to provide limited cash contribution without imposing substantial hardship upon himself or his dependents. |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | Yes |
Payment of total costs of representation |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 558.008 | Revocation of a fine |
A defendant who has been sentenced to pay a fine may at any time petition the sentencing court for a revocation of a fine or any unpaid portion thereof. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the circumstances which warranted the imposition of the fine no longer exist or that it would otherwise be unjust to require payment of the fine, the court may revoke the fine or the unpaid portion in whole or in part or may modify the method of payment.
|
All |
Unjust to require payment |
At defendant's request at enforcement | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
Revocation of fine |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 479.260(2) | Court costs and fees, judicial education fund, purpose, administration |
In municipal ordinance violation cases which are filed in the associate circuit division of the circuit court, fees shall be assessed in each case in an amount to be set pursuant to sections 488.010 to 488.020. In the event a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty, the judge shall assess costs against the defendant except in those cases where the defendant is found by the judge to be indigent and unable to pay the costs.
|
All |
Indigent and unable to pay the costs |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
Costs not assessed. |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 558.004(1) | Imposition of fines |
In determining the amount and the method of payment of a fine, the court shall, insofar as practicable, proportion the fine to the burden that payment will impose in view of the financial resources of an individual. The court shall not sentence an offender to pay a fine in any amount which will prevent him or her from making restitution or reparation to the victim of the offense.
|
All |
Financial resources and burden caused by fine. |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
Fine proportional to defendant's resources |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 600.086(3),(6) | Eligibility for representation, rules to establish--indigency, how determined, procedure, appeal--false statements, penalty--investigation authorized |
3. The determination of indigency of any person seeking the services of the state public defender system shall be made by the defender or anyone serving under him at any stage of the proceedings. Upon motion by either party, the court in which the case is pending shall have authority to determine whether the services of the public defender may be utilized by the defendant. Upon the courts finding that the defendant is not indigent, the public defender shall no longer represent the defendant. Any such person claiming indigency shall file with the court an affidavit which shall contain the factual information required by the commission under rules which may be established by the commission in determining indigency.
6. The burden shall lie on the accused or the defendant to convince the defender or the court of his eligibility to receive legal services, in any conference, hearing or question thereon. |
All |
Indigent |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Representation by public defender |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 488.020 | Collection of court costs, when, how |
Upon notification to the party from whom the fee is due, a failure to pay the fee after such notice, and a showing of the party's ability to pay the fee, the court may hold the party in contempt.
|
All |
Not provided for |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
N/A |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 488.65 | Expungement cases under section 610.140, surcharge, amount, waiver |
There shall be assessed as costs a surcharge in the amount of two hundred fifty dollars on all petitions for expungement filed under the provisions of section 610.140. The judge may waive the surcharge if the petitioner is found by the judge to be indigent and unable to pay the costs.
|
All |
Indigent |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Surcharge waiver |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 549.525(1)-(2)(1),(6) | Probation services for ordinance violators, certain cities--collection of fee for supervision and rehabilitation services provided--exemption |
1. Any city with a population of more than three hundred fifty thousand inhabitants which is located in more than one county which provides probation services for persons convicted of its ordinance violations may collect from the person placed on probation a fee of ten dollars per month for providing supervision and rehabilitation services.
2. The court may exempt a person from all or part of the contribution required in subsection 1 of this section if it finds any of the following factors exist: (1) The offender has diligently attempted, but has been unable, to obtain employment which provides him sufficient income to make such payments; . . . (6) There are other extenuating circumstances as determined by the court to exempt or partially reduce such payments; |
All | Not provided for | Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Exempt or partially reduce such payments. |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 546.54 | Confinement of insane persons, costs paid, how |
The sheriff or other officer having the custody of persons committed to the director of the department of mental health as provided in section 552.040 shall, if he deems it necessary to their safe custody, confine them to the county jail until they shall be removed to a state hospital. If all things needful be not otherwise supplied, he shall furnish them, and, in such cases, the supplies for the indigent shall be paid for by the proper county commissions out of the county treasuries; and supplies for others than the indigent shall be repaid out of their estates, and may be recovered by suit in the name of such officer.
|
All |
Indigent |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
Supplies paid for by the proper county commissions. |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 550.03 | County to pay costs, when |
When the defendant is sentenced to imprisonment in the county jail, or to pay a fine, or both, and is unable to pay the costs, the county in which the indictment was found or information filed shall pay the costs, except such as were incurred on the part of the defendant.
|
All |
Not provided for |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
County in which the indictment was found or information filed shall pay the costs |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 550.02(1) | State to pay certain costs |
cIn all capital cases in which the defendant shall be convicted, and in all cases in which the defendant shall be sentenced to imprisonment in the penitentiary, and in cases where such person is convicted of an offense punishable solely by imprisonment in the penitentiary and is sentenced to imprisonment in the county jail, workhouse or reform school because such person is under the age of eighteen years, the state shall pay the costs, if the defendant shall be unable to pay them, except costs incurred on behalf of defendant.
|
All |
Not provided for |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
State shall pay the costs |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 559.604 | Cost of misdemeanor probation to be paid by offenders, exceptions |
Neither the state of Missouri nor any county of the state shall be required to pay any part of the cost of probation and rehabilitation services provided to misdemeanor offenders under sections 559.600 to 559.615. The person placed on probation shall contribute not less than thirty dollars or more than fifty dollars per month to the private entity providing him or her with supervision and rehabilitation services. The amount of the contribution shall be determined by the sentencing court. The court may exempt a person from all or part of the foregoing contribution if it finds any of the following factors to exist: (1) The offender has diligently attempted, but has been unable, to obtain employment which provides him or her sufficient income to make such payments; . . . (6) There are other extenuating circumstances as determined by the court to exempt or partially reduce such payments;
|
All |
Unable to obtain employment which provides him or her sufficient income to make such payments; other extenuating circumstances. |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Exempt a person from all or part of payment. |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws § 23A-3-28 | Service of motion -- Fee |
When a defendant or arrested person makes a motion under this section, the defendant or arrested person shall pay to the clerk of courts in the county where the motion is filed a fee equal to the filing fee for a civil action. If the defendant or arrested person establishes to the court’s satisfaction that the person is indigent and unable to pay the fee, the court may waive the filing fee.
|
All |
Indigent |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Other | No |
Waive filing fee |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws § 23A-32-16 | Notice of appeal--Service on adverse parties--Perfection of appeal--Fee not required of indigent defendant |
. . . Whenever an appeal is taken by an indigent, assigned counsel pursuant to § 23A-40-6, no filing fee need be paid and no undertaking need be furnished to perfect such appeal.
|
All |
Indigent |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Other | Yes |
Waive filing fee |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws § 24-2-28 | Liability of inmate for cost of confinement — Exception |
Each inmate under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections is liable for the cost of the inmate’s confinement which includes room and board charges; medical, dental, optometric, and psychiatric services charges; vocational education training; and alcoholism treatment charges.
However, if the secretary of corrections determines after considering the net income, net worth, number of dependents, and any existing obligations of the inmate, that the inmate is unable to pay, the secretary may waive all or part of the payment for the costs of the inmate’s confinement. |
All |
Net income, net worth, number of dependents, and any existing obligations of the inmate. |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Other | No |
Waive all or part of costs for confinement |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws § 24-11-32.1 | Work release inmate — Restitution for prisoner maintenance cost |
The board of county commissioners may require by resolution that a sum not to exceed the average daily prisoner cost may be charged to work release inmates of county jails as restitution to be applied toward prisoner maintenance cost, including but not limited to, room and board. In instances of undue hardship, the commissioners may reduce or waive the charges.
|
All |
Undue hardship |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Other | No |
Reduce or waive charges |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws § 24-11-45 | Prisoner liable for costs of confinement — Waiver |
A prisoner confined to any jail while serving a sentence is liable for the cost of the prisoner’s confinement including room and board charges; medical, dental, optometric, and psychiatric services charges; vocational education training; chemical dependency treatment charges; and transportation costs as set forth in subdivision 7-12-18(4), where transporting the prisoner is required. If, after considering the prisoner’s net income, net worth, number of dependents, and any existing obligations, the judge who sentenced the prisoner to jail determines that the prisoner is unable to pay the full amount at one time, the judge may allow the prisoner to set up a deferred payment plan for payment for the costs of the inmate’s confinement or waive all or part of the payment if the prisoner demonstrates an inability to pay.
|
All |
Prisoner's net income, net worth, number of dependents, and any existing obligations |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Other | No |
Waive all or part of costs for confinement |
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.