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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New Jersey N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2B:12-23.1 Inability to pay fine in full on date of court hearing
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, if a municipal court finds that a person does not have the ability to pay a penalty in full on the date
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of the hearing or has failed to pay a previously imposed penalty, the court may order the person to perform community service in lieu of the payment of a penalty; or, order the payment of the penalty in installments for a period of time determined by the court.
All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

Community service, installment plan

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New Jersey N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2B:12-23.1 Default of payment
If a person defaults on any payment and a municipal court finds that the defendant does not have the ability to pay, the court may: (1) reduce the penalty, suspend
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the penalty, or modify the installment plan; (2) order that credit be given against the amount owed for each day of confinement, if the court finds that the person has served jail time for the default; (3) revoke any unpaid portion of the penalty, if the court finds that the circumstances that warranted the imposition have changed or that it would be unjust to require payment; (4) order the person to perform community service in lieu of payment of the penalty; or (5) impose any other alternative permitted by law in lieu of payment of the penalty. b. For the purposes of this section, “penalty” means any fine, statutorily-mandated assessment, surcharge or other financial penalty imposed by a municipal court, except restitution or a surcharge assessed pursuant to subsection f. of section 1 of P.L.2000, c. 75 (C.39:4-97.2).
All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

(1) reduce the penalty, suspend the penalty, or modify the installment plan; (2) order that credit be given against the amount owed for each day of confinement, if the court

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finds that the person has served jail time for the default; (3) revoke any unpaid portion of the penalty, if the court finds that the circumstances that warranted the imposition have changed or that it would be unjust to require payment; (4) order the person to perform community service in lieu of payment of the penalty; or (5) impose any other alternative permitted by law in lieu of payment of the penalty

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New Jersey N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:44-2 Criteria for imposing fines
a. The court may sentence a defendant to pay a fine in addition to a sentence of imprisonment or probation if: (1) The defendant has derived a pecuniary gain from the offense
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or the court is of opinion that a fine is specially adapted to deterrence of the type of offense involved or to the correction of the offender; (2) The defendant is able, or given a fair opportunity to do so, will be able to pay the fine; and (3) The fine will not prevent the defendant from making restitution to the victim of the offense... c. (1) In determining the amount and method of payment of a fine, the court shall take into account the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that its payment will impose.
All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes Not provided for
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New Jersey N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:44-2 Criteria for imposing restitution
b. The court shall sentence a defendant to pay restitution in addition to a sentence of imprisonment or probation that may be imposed if: (1) The victim, or in the case
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of a homicide, the nearest relative of the victim, suffered a loss; and (2) The defendant is able to pay or, given a fair opportunity, will be able to pay restitution. c. (1) In determining the amount and method of payment of a fine, the court shall take into account the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that its payment will impose. (2) In determining the amount and method of payment of restitution, the court shall take into account all financial resources of the defendant, including the defendant's likely future earnings, and shall set the amount of restitution so as to provide the victim with the fullest compensation for loss that is consistent with the defendant's ability to pay. The court shall not reduce a restitution award by any amount that the victim has received from the Violent Crimes Compensation Board, but shall order the defendant to pay any restitution ordered for a loss previously compensated by the Board to the Violent Crimes Compensation Board. If restitution to more than one person is set at the same time, the court shall set priorities of payment.
All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes Not provided for
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New Jersey N.J.Stat.Ann. § 2C:46-3 Revocation of fine
A defendant who has been sentenced to pay a fine may at any time petition the court which sentenced him for a revocation of the fine or of any unpaid
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portion thereof. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the circumstances which warranted the imposition of the fine have changed, or that it would otherwise be unjust to require payment, the court may revoke the fine or the unpaid portion thereof in whole or in part.
All

"would be otherwise unjust to require payment"

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

revoke the fine in whole or in part

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New Jersey N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:158A-16 services rendered - ability to pay
In all cases where it appears that the defendant has or reasonably expects to have means to meet some part, though not all, of the cost of the services rendered
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to him he shall be required to reimburse the office, either by a single payment or in installments, in such amounts as he can reasonably be expected to pay; but no default or failure in the making of any such payment shall in any wise affect or reduce the rendering of the services to him.
All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Not specified

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New Jersey N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:43-3.1 defendant's ability to pay
In imposing this assessment, the court shall consider factors such as the severity of the crime, the defendant's criminal record, defendant's ability to pay and the economic impact of the
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assessment on the defendant's dependents.
All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Not specified

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New Jersey N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:43-13.8 (West) Conditional dismissal assessment, restitution and other assessments
A defendant may apply for a waiver of the fee, by reason of poverty, pursuant to the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey, or the court
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may permit the defendant to pay the conditional dismissal fee and other assessments in installments or may order other alternatives pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2009, c. 317 (C.2B:12-23.1).
All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

waiver of fee, payment plan

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New Jersey N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:45-1 Conditions of Suspension or Probation This fee may be waived in cases of indigency upon application by the chief probation officer to the sentencing court. All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Other No

waived

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Oklahoma Okla. Stat. tit. 22, § 988.9 Fees and costs
In hardship cases the supervising agency may expressly waive all or part of the fee. No supervising agency participating in a local community sentencing system shall deny any offender supervision
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services for the sole reason that the offender is indigent.
All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Administrative decision No

Waiver of fee

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Oklahoma Okla. Stat. tit. 22, § 991a(A)(4) Sentencing powers of court--Alcohol and drug assessment and evaluation--Restitution, fines, or incarceration--Victim impact statements--Probation and monitoring--DNA samples
if, in the opinion of the court, the defendant is able to pay without imposing manifest hardship on the defendant, and if the costs incurred by the Bureau during the
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investigation of the defendant's case may be determined with reasonable certainty;
All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Other Yes

None specified

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Oklahoma Okla. Stat. tit. 22, § 471.6H Final eligibility hearing--Acceptance into program--Duration of participation--Costs and fees--Driving privileges
Court orders for costs and fees shall remain an obligation of the offender until fully paid; provided, however, once the offender has successfully completed the drug court program, the drug
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court judge shall have the discretion to expressly waive all or part of the costs and fees provided for in this subsection if, in the opinion of the drug court judge, continued payment of the costs and fees by the offender would create a financial hardship for the offender. Offenders who have not fully paid all costs and fees pursuant to court order but who have otherwise successfully completed the drug court program shall not be counted as an active drug court participant for purposes of drug court contracts or program participant numbers.
All

No financial hardship

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

Waiver of fee

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Oklahoma Okla. Stat. tit. 22, § 60.2C Protective order--Petition--Complaint requirement for certain stalking victims--Fees the court shall have authority to waive the costs and fees if the court finds that the party does not have the ability to pay the costs and fees. All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

Waiver of costs

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Oklahoma Okla. Stat. tit. 22, § 1355.14E Payment of costs of representation--Fee schedule
The fees shall be assessed unless ordered waived upon good cause shown by the indigent person, or unless another amount is specifically requested by counsel for the indigent person and
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is approved by the court.
All

Not indigent

At defendant's request before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Not provided for No

Waiver of fee

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Oklahoma Okla. Stat. tit. 10A, § 1-4-701A Reimbursements and costs by parents able to pay Upon notice to the parent or other person legally obligated to support the child and upon an opportunity to be heard and a finding of financial ability to pay All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

None specified

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Oklahoma Okla. Stat. tit. 22, § 1355A Application for representation by the System
except that the court may, based upon the financial information submitted, defer all or part of the fee if the court determines that the person does not have the financial
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resources to pay the fee at time of application, to attach as a court fee upon conviction.
All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge without hearing No

Deferment of fee

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Oklahoma Okla. Stat. tit. 22, § 979a Payment of jail costs by inmate The defendant shall have an opportunity to object to the amount of costs solely on the grounds that the number of days served is incorrect. All

None. Defendant can only object on the grounds that the number of days served is incorrect.

Not provided for Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Not provided for Yes

Waiver of fee

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Oklahoma Okla. Stat. tit. 22, § 983b Released persons--Hearing to determine ability to pay fines, costs and fees
A. Any person released on parole or released without parole from a term of imprisonment with the Department of Corrections shall be required to report at a time not less
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than one hundred eighty (180) days after his or her release from the Department of Corrections to:1. The district court of the county from which the judgment and sentence resulting in incarceration arose; and 2. All other district courts or municipal courts where the person owes fines, fees, costs and assessments, for the purpose of scheduling a hearing to determine the ability of the person to pay fines, fees, costs or assessments owed by the person in every felony or misdemeanor criminal case filed in a district court or criminal case filed in a municipal court of this state. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of Section VIII of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals, 22 O.S. 2011, Ch. 18, App. A court may for good cause shown or in its discretion continue such hearing for up to one hundred eighty (180) days. B. In determining the ability of the person to satisfy fines, fees, costs or assessments owed to a district or municipal court, the court shall inquire of the person at the time of the hearing which counties and municipalities the person owes fines, fees, costs or assessments in every felony or misdemeanor criminal case filed against the person and shall consider all court-ordered debt, including restitution and child support, in determining the ability of the person to pay. The person shall not be required to pay any outstanding fines, fees, costs or assessments prior to the expiration of the one-hundred-eighty-day period; provided, however, the person shall not be precluded from voluntarily making payment toward the satisfaction of any fines, fees, costs or assessments due and owing to a district or municipal court of this state.
All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Waiver of fees pursuant to § 983a: A. On or after November 1, 2016, the court shall have the authority to waive all outstanding fines, court costs and fees in

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a criminal case for any person who:
1. Served a period of imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections after conviction for a crime;
2. Has been released from the custody of the Department of Corrections;
3. Has complied with all probation or supervision requirements since being released from the custody of the Department of Corrections; and
4. Has made installment payments on outstanding fines, court costs, fees and restitution ordered by the court on a timely basis every month for the previous twenty-four (24) months following release from the custody of the Department of Corrections.
B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to amounts owed by the person for restitution to a victim pursuant to a court order or child support obligations pursuant to a court order.

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Oklahoma Okla. Stat. tit. 31, § 1.1 Earnings from personal services--Exemption from process--Order
A. Following the issuance of an execution, attachment, or garnishment, except process to collect a judgment or order for child support or maintenance of children or in cases in which
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the court has limited or reduced the application of this section pursuant to Section 142.18 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the debtor may file with the court an application requesting a hearing to exempt from such process by reason of undue hardship that portion of any earnings from personal services necessary for the maintenance of a family or other dependents supported wholly or partially by the labor of the debtor. A debtor with no family or other dependents may not claim an exemption under this section. A hearing on the application shall be set and conducted in the manner provided by Section 1172.2 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes and subsection C of Section 1174 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes.B. In determining the existence of an undue hardship, the court should consider the income and expenses of the family and other dependents, and the standard of living created by the income and expenses. The court should also consider the standard of living in relationship to the minimal subsistence needs of the debtor's family and other dependents, with comparison to the minimal subsistence standards in the community, in regard to basic shelter, food, clothing, personal necessities and transportation. The court should then determine if the lack of the funds sought to be exempt would be an undue hardship by creating less than a minimal level of subsistence. If deprivation of these earnings would create an undue hardship on the debtor and the family or other dependents the debtor supports, the court may: 1. Order all or a portion of the personal earnings exempt; or 2. In the case of a continuing earnings garnishment pursuant to Section 1173.4 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, exempt all or a portion of the personal earnings withheld within the thirty (30) days preceding the filing of the claim for exemption or modify or stay the garnishment for a period of time not to exceed the remainder of the term of the garnishment.
All

Undue hardship

At defendant's request at enforcement Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

1. Order all or a portion of the personal earnings exempt; or
2. In the case of a continuing earnings garnishment pursuant to Section 1173.4 of Title 12 of the

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Oklahoma Statutes, exempt all or a portion of the personal earnings withheld within the thirty (30) days preceding the filing of the claim for exemption or modify or stay the garnishment for a period of time not to exceed the remainder of the term of the garnishment.

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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