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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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

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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.

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Unable to afford costs

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

Payment by county

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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. 

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Indigent

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

Fees not assessed.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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Unjust to require payment

At defendant's request at enforcement Not provided for Not provided for No

Revocation of fine

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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

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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.

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Indigent and unable to pay the costs

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

Costs not assessed.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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fee, the court may hold the party in contempt.

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Not provided for

At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No

N/A

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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

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may waive the surcharge if the petitioner is found by the judge to be indigent and unable to pay the costs. 

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Indigent

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

Surcharge waiver

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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Indigent

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

Supplies paid for by the proper county commissions.

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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

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indictment was found or information filed shall pay the costs, except such as were incurred on the part of the defendant.

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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

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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

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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.

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Not provided for

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

State shall pay the costs

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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

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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; 

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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.

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-355 Petition of defendant
(a) In determining whether the defendant is unable to pay such fine forthwith, the court may require such defendant to file a petition, under oath, with the court, upon a
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form provided by the court, setting forth the financial condition of the defendant. (b) Such form shall be a questionnaire, and shall include, but shall not be limited to: the name and residence of the defendant; his occupation, if any; his family status and the number of persons dependent upon him; his monthly income; whether or not his dependents are employed and, if so, their approximate monthly income; his banking accounts, if any; real estate owned by the defendant, or any interest he may have in real estate; income produced therefrom; any independent income accruing to the defendant; tangible and intangible personal property owned by the defendant, or in which he may have an interest; and a statement listing the approximate indebtedness of the defendant to other persons. Such form shall also include a payment plan of the defendant, if the court should exercise its discretion in permitting the payment of such fine and costs in installments or other conditions to be fixed by the court.
All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No

permitting the payment of such fine and costs in installments or other conditions to be fixed by the court

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-358(C) Show cause hearing on default
B. Following the order to show cause or following a capias issued for a defendant's failure to comply with a court order to appear issued pursuant to subsection A of
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§ 19.2-354, unless the defendant shows that his default was not attributable to an intentional refusal to obey the sentence of the court, or not attributable to a failure on his part to make a good faith effort to obtain the necessary funds for payment, or unless the defendant shows that any failure to appear was not attributable to an intentional refusal to obey the order of the court, the court may order the defendant confined as for a contempt for a term not to exceed sixty days or impose a fine not to exceed $500. The court may provide in its order that payment or satisfaction of the amounts in default at any time will entitle the defendant to his release from such confinement or, after entering the order, may at any time reduce the sentence for good cause shown, including payment or satisfaction of such amounts. C. If it appears that the default is excusable under the standards set forth in subsection B hereof, the court may enter an order allowing the defendant additional time for payment, reducing the amount due or of each installment, or remitting the unpaid portion in whole or in part.
All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge after hearing No

additional time for payment, reducing the amount due or of each installment, or remitting the unpaid portion in whole or in part

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-363 Authority of Governor to grant relief from fines and penalties in case of deceased defendant
provided, that when the party against whom the fine or penalty has been imposed and judgment rendered therefor has departed this life leaving a spouse or children surviving, the Governor
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may remit such fine or penalty upon the certificate of the judge of the circuit court of the county or city wherein such fine or penalty was imposed and judgment rendered, that to enforce the same against the estate, real or personal, of the decedent, would impose hardship upon the spouse or children
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would impose hardship upon the spouse or children

At defendant's request at enforcement Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

remittance

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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
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upon the defendant's ability to pay.
All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Not specified

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 53.1-150.1 Substance abuse treatment as condition of parole - exemptions
Any person who is granted parole and who is required to receive substance abuse treatment as a condition of parole shall contribute towards the cost of such treatment based upon
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his ability to pay, as established pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Board of Corrections. The regulations shall provide that (i) any fees collected for such treatment shall be paid directly to the service provider and (ii) any person may be exempt from the payment of such fees on the grounds of unreasonable hardship.
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unreasonable hardship

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

exemption from payment of fees