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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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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Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann 69.50.430 Additional fine for certain felony violations

(1) Every adult offender convicted of a felony violation of RCW 69.50.401 through 69.50.4013, 69.50.4015, 69.50.402, 69.50.403, 69.50.406, 69.50.407, 69.50.410, or 69.50.415 must be fined one thousand dollars in addition

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to any other fine or penalty imposed. Unless the court finds the adult offender to be indigent, this additional fine may not be suspended or deferred by the court.


(2) On a second or subsequent conviction for violation of any of the laws listed in subsection (1) of this section, the adult offender must be fined two thousand dollars in addition to any other fine or penalty imposed. Unless the court finds the adult offender to be indigent, this additional fine may not be suspended or deferred by the court.


(3) In addition to any other civil or criminal penalty, every person who violates or causes another to violate RCW 69.50.401 by distributing, dispensing, manufacturing, displaying for sale, offering for sale, attempting to sell, or selling to a purchaser any product that contains any amount of any synthetic cannabinoid, as identified in RCW 69.50.204, must be fined not less than ten thousand dollars and not more than five hundred thousand dollars. If, however, the person who violates or causes another to violate RCW 69.50.401 by distributing, dispensing, manufacturing, displaying for sale, offering for sale, attempting to sell, or selling any product that contains any amount of any synthetic cannabinoid, as identified in RCW 69.50.204, to a purchaser under the age of eighteen, the minimum penalty is twenty-five thousand dollars if the person is at least two years older than the minor. Unless the court finds the person to be indigent, this additional fine may not be suspended or deferred by the court.

All

Indigent

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

Suspended or defer additional fine

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Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann 10.73.160(4) Court fees and costs

A defendant who has been sentenced to pay costs and who is not in contumacious default in the payment may at any time after release from total confinement petition the

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court that sentenced the defendant or juvenile offender for remission of the payment of costs or of any unpaid portion. If it appears to the satisfaction of the sentencing court that payment of the amount due will impose manifest hardship on the defendant or the defendant’s immediate family, the sentencing court may remit all or part of the amount due in costs, modify the method of payment under RCW 10.01.170, or convert the unpaid costs to community restitution hours, if the jurisdiction operates a community restitution program, at the rate of no less than the state minimum wage established in RCW 49.46.020 for each hour of community restitution. Manifest hardship exists where the defendant or juvenile offender is indigent as defined in RCW 10.101.010(3) (a) through (c).

All

Manifest hardship on the defendant or defendant's immediate family; indigent.

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

Court may remit all or part of the amount due in costs, modify the method of payment, or convert the unpaid costs to community restitution hours.

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Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann 10.01.160(3)-(4) Costs — What constitutes — Payment by defendant — Procedure — Remission — Medical or mental health treatment or services

(3) The court shall not order a defendant to pay costs if the defendant at the time of sentencing is indigent as defined in RCW 10.101.010(3) (a) through (c). In

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determining the amount and method of payment of costs for defendants who are not indigent as defined in RCW 10.101.010(3) (a) through (c), the court shall take account of the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that payment of costs will impose.


(4) A defendant who has been ordered to pay costs and who is not in contumacious default in the payment thereof may at any time after release from total confinement petition the sentencing court for remission of the payment of costs or of any unpaid portion thereof. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that payment of the amount due will impose manifest hardship on the defendant or the defendant’s immediate family, the court may remit all or part of the amount due in costs, modify the method of payment under RCW 10.01.170, or convert the unpaid costs to community restitution hours, if the jurisdiction operates a community restitution program, at the rate of no less than the state minimum wage established in RCW 49.46.020 for each hour of community restitution. Manifest hardship exists where the defendant is indigent as defined in RCW 10.101.010(3) (a) through (c).

All

able to pay - based upon hardship

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

Court may remit all or part of the amount due in costs, modify the method of payment, or convert the unpaid costs to community restitution hours.

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Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 10.101.020 Determination of indigency — Provisional appointment — Promissory note

(1) A determination of indigency shall be made for all persons wishing the appointment of counsel in criminal, juvenile, involuntary commitment, and dependency cases, and any other case where the right

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to counsel attaches. The court or its designee shall determine whether the person is indigent pursuant to the standards set forth in this chapter.

(2) In making the determination of indigency, the court shall also consider the anticipated length and complexity of the proceedings and the usual and customary charges of an attorney in the community for rendering services, and any other circumstances presented to the court which are relevant to the issue of indigency. The appointment of counsel shall not be denied to the person because the person’s friends or relatives, other than a spouse who was not the victim of any offense or offenses allegedly committed by the person, have resources adequate to retain counsel, or because the person has posted or is capable of posting bond.

(3) The determination of indigency shall be made upon the defendant’s initial contact with the court or at the earliest time circumstances permit. The court or its designee shall keep a written record of the determination of indigency. Any information given by the accused under this section or sections shall be confidential and shall not be available for use by the prosecution in the pending case.

(4) If a determination of eligibility cannot be made before the time when the first services are to be rendered, the court shall appoint an attorney on a provisional basis. If the court subsequently determines that the person receiving the services is ineligible, the court shall notify the person of the termination of services, subject to court-ordered reinstatement.

(5) All persons determined to be indigent and able to contribute, shall be required to execute a promissory note at the time counsel is appointed. The person shall be informed whether payment shall be made in the form of a lump sum payment or periodic payments. The payment and payment schedule must be set forth in writing. The person receiving the appointment of counsel shall also sign an affidavit swearing under penalty of perjury that all income and assets reported are complete and accurate. In addition, the person must swear in the affidavit to immediately report any change in financial status to the court.

(6) The office or individual charged by the court to make the determination of indigency shall provide a written report and opinion as to indigency on a form prescribed by the office of public defense, based on information obtained from the defendant and subject to verification. The form shall include information necessary to provide a basis for making a determination with respect to indigency as provided by this chapter.

All

Indigent - court shall also consider the anticipated length and complexity of the proceedings and the usual and customary charges of an attorney in the community for rendering services, and any other

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circumstances presented to the court which are relevant to the issue of indigency.

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

N/A

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Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9.94A.750 Restitution

(1) If restitution is ordered, the court shall determine the amount of restitution due at the sentencing hearing or within one hundred eighty days. The court may continue the hearing beyond

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the one hundred eighty days for good cause. The court shall then set a minimum monthly payment that the offender is required to make towards the restitution that is ordered. The court shall not issue any order that postpones the commencement of restitution payments until after the offender is released from total confinement. The court should take into consideration the total amount of the restitution owed, the offender’s present, past, and future ability to pay, as well as any assets that the offender may have. An offender’s inability to make restitution payments while in total confinement may not be the basis for a violation of his or her sentence unless his or her inability to make payments resulted from a refusal to accept an employment offer to a class I or class II job or a termination for cause from such a job.

(2) During the period of supervision, the community corrections officer may examine the offender to determine if there has been a change in circumstances that warrants an amendment of the monthly payment schedule. The community corrections officer may recommend a change to the schedule of payment and shall inform the court of the recommended change and the reasons for the change. The sentencing court may then reset the monthly minimum payments based on the report from the community corrections officer of the change in circumstances. 

All

Consideration the total amount of the restitution owed, the offender’s present, past, and future ability to pay, as well as any assets that the offender may have; change in circumstances.

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No

Change to the schedule of payment, reset the monthly minimum payments based on the report from the community corrections officer of the change in circumstances.

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Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9.94A.777(1) Legal financial obligations — Defendants with mental health conditions

Before imposing any legal financial obligations upon a defendant who suffers from a mental health condition, other than restitution or the victim penalty assessment under RCW 7.68.035, a judge must

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first determine that the defendant, under the terms of this section, has the means to pay such additional sums.

All

means to pay - for defendants who suffer from mental conditions ONLY.

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes Not provided for
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Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann 9.94A.780(1) Offender supervision intake fees

The department may exempt or defer a person from the payment of all or any part of the intake fee based upon any of the following factors:(a) The offender has

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diligently attempted but has been unable to obtain employment that provides the offender sufficient income to make such a payment. (b) The offender is a student in a school, college, university, or a course of vocational or technical training designed to fit the student for gainful employment. (c) The offender has an employment handicap, as determined by an examination acceptable to or ordered by the department. (d) The offender's age prevents him or her from obtaining employment. (e) The offender is responsible for the support of dependents and the payment of the intake fee constitutes an undue hardship on the offender. (f) Other extenuating circumstances as determined by the department.

All

Multifactor test: income insufficient for payment, status as student, employment handicap, age, dependents, and other extenuating circumstances

Not provided for Not provided for Administrative decision No

Exemption or deferral of payment

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Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9.94A.6333(3)(a),(c),(f) Sanctions--Modification of sentence--Noncompliance hearing

(3) If an offender fails to pay legal financial obligations as a requirement of a sentence the following provisions apply:
 

(a) The court, upon the motion of the state, or

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upon its own motion, shall require the offender to show cause why the offender should not be punished for the noncompliance. The court may issue a summons or a warrant of arrest for the offender's appearance;

(c) The court may not sanction the offender for failure to pay legal financial obligations unless the court finds, after a hearing and on the record, that the failure to pay is willful. A failure to pay is willful if the offender has the current ability to pay but refuses to do so. In determining whether the offender has the current ability to pay, the court shall inquire into and consider: (i) The offender's income and assets; (ii) the offender's basic living costs as defined by RCW 10.101.010 and other liabilities including child support and other legal financial obligations; and (iii) the offender's bona fide efforts to acquire additional resources. An offender who is indigent as defined by RCW 10.101.010(3) (a) through (c) is presumed to lack the current ability to pay; 

(f) If the court finds that the violation was not willful, the court may, and if the court finds that the defendant is indigent as defined in RCW 10.101.010(3) (a) through (c), the court shall modify the terms of payment of the legal financial obligations, reduce or waive nonrestitution legal financial obligations, or convert nonrestitution legal financial obligations to community restitution hours, if the jurisdiction operates a community restitution program, at the rate of no less than the state minimum wage established in RCW 49.46.020 for each hour of community restitution. The crime victim penalty assessment under RCW 7.68.035 may not be reduced, waived, or converted to community restitution hours.

All

Court shall inquire into and consider: (i) The offender's income and assets; (ii) the offender's basic living costs as defined by RCW 10.101.010 and other liabilities including child support and

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other legal financial obligations; and (iii) the offender's bona fide efforts to acquire additional resources; Indigent.

At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

The court shall modify the terms of payment of the legal financial obligations, reduce or waive nonrestitution legal financial obligations, or convert nonrestitution legal financial obligations to community restitution hours.

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Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9.94B.040(4)(c) Noncompliance with condition or requirement of sentence — Procedure — Penalty.

(c) The state has the burden of showing noncompliance by a preponderance of the evidence. The court may not sanction the offender for failure to pay legal financial obligations unless

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the court finds, after a hearing and on the record, that the failure to pay is willful. A failure to pay is willful if the offender has the current ability to pay but refuses to do so. In determining whether the offender has the current ability to pay, the court shall inquire into and consider: (i) The offender’s income and assets; (ii) the offender’s basic living costs as defined by RCW 10.101.010 and other liabilities including child support and other legal financial obligations; and (iii) the offender’s bona fide efforts to acquire additional resources. An offender who is indigent as defined by RCW 10.101.010(3) (a) through (c) is presumed to lack the current ability to pay;

All

Court shall inquire into and consider: (i) The offender’s income and assets; (ii) the offender’s basic living costs as defined by RCW 10.101.010 and other liabilities including child support and

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other legal financial obligations; and (iii) the offender’s bona fide efforts to acquire additional resources; indigent.

At enforcement of fine or fee Burden on government to show ability to pay Determined by judge without hearing No

Court may not sanction the offender for failure to pay legal financial obligations

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Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 10.01.180(3),(5) Fine or costs — Default in payment — Contempt of court — Enforcement, collection procedures

(3) (a) The court shall not sanction a defendant for contempt based on failure to pay fines, penalties, assessments, fees, or costs unless the court finds, after a hearing and on the

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record, that the failure to pay is willful. A failure to pay is willful if the defendant has the current ability to pay but refuses to do so. (b) In determining whether the defendant has the current ability to pay, the court shall inquire into and consider: (i) The defendant’s income and assets; (ii) the defendant’s basic living costs as defined by RCW 10.101.010 and other liabilities including child support and other legal financial obligations; and (iii) the defendant’s bona fide efforts to acquire additional resources. A defendant who is indigent as defined by RCW 10.101.010(3) (a) through (c) is presumed to lack the current ability to pay. (c) If the court determines that the defendant is homeless or a person who is mentally ill, as defined in RCW 71.24.025, failure to pay a legal financial obligation is not willful contempt and shall not subject the defendant to penalties.
(5) If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the default in the payment of any fine, penalty, assessment, fee, or costs is not willful contempt, the court may, and if the defendant is indigent as defined in RCW 10.101.010(3) (a) through (c), the court shall enter an order: (a) Allowing the defendant additional time for payment; (b) reducing the amount thereof or of each installment; (c) revoking the fine, penalty, assessment, fee, or costs or the unpaid portion thereof in whole or in part; or (d) converting the unpaid fine, penalty, assessment, fee, or costs to community restitution hours, if the jurisdiction operates a community restitution program, at the rate of no less than the state minimum wage established in RCW 49.46.020 for each hour of community restitution. The crime victim penalty assessment under RCW 7.68.035 may not be reduced, revoked, or converted to community restitution hours.

All

Court shall inquire into and consider: (i) The defendant’s income and assets; (ii) the defendant’s basic living costs as defined by RCW 10.101.010 and other liabilities including child support and other legal

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financial obligations; and (iii) the defendant’s bona fide efforts to acquire additional resources; indigent.

At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing No

Court shall enter an order: (a) Allowing the defendant additional time for payment; (b) reducing the amount thereof or of each installment; (c) revoking the fine, penalty, assessment, fee, or

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costs or the unpaid portion thereof in whole or in part; or (d) converting the unpaid fine, penalty, assessment, fee, or costs to community restitution hours.