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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.
57 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 | |
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New York | N.Y. Penal Law § 80.00 | Fine for felony |
When imposing a fine pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph, the court shall consider the profit gained by defendant's conduct, whether the amount of the fine is disproportionate to + See morethe conduct in which defendant engaged, its impact on any victims, and defendant's economic circumstances, including the defendant's ability to pay, the effect of the fine upon his or her immediate family or any other persons to whom the defendant owes an obligation of support.
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Felony | Not provided for | Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
Not specified |
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New York | N.Y. Correct. Law § 201(9) | Authority and responsibility for community supervision |
The department shall waive all or part of such fee where, because of the indigence of the offender, the payment of said fee would work an unreasonable hardship on the + See moreperson convicted, his or her immediate family, or any other person who is dependent on such person for financial support.
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All |
payment of said fee would work an unreasonable hardship on the person convicted, his or her immediate family, or any other person who is dependent on such person for financial support.
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Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
Waiver of fee |
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New York | N.Y. Exec. Law § 257-c | Probation administrative fee |
The department shall waive all or part of such fee where, because of the indigence of the offender, the payment of said surcharge would work an unreasonable hardship on the + See moreperson convicted, his or her immediate family, or any other person who is dependent on such person for financial support.
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All |
payment of said surcharge would work an unreasonable hardship on the person convicted, his or her immediate family, or any other person who is dependent on such person for financial support.
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Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
Waiver of fee |
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New York | N.Y. Correct. Law § 189(2) | Disposition of moneys paid to prisoner for his labor |
The commissioner shall waive the collection of such fee where it is determined that the payment of the fee would work an unreasonable hardship on the prisoner or his or + See moreher immediate family.
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All |
payment of the fee would work an unreasonable hardship on the prisoner or his or her immediate family. |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
Waiver of fee |
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New York | N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 1198(5) | Installation and operation of ignition interlock devices |
The cost of installing and maintaining the ignition interlock device shall be borne by the person subject to such condition unless the court determines such person is financially unable to + See moreafford such cost whereupon such cost may be imposed pursuant to a payment plan or waived
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All |
the court determines such person is financially unable to afford such cost |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
Waiver or payment plan |
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New York | N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law § 420.30 | Remission of fines, restitution or reparation |
a court may waive the crime victim assistance fee if such defendant is an eligible youth as defined in subdivision two of section 720.10 of this chapter, and the imposition of such + See morefee would work an unreasonable hardship on the defendant, his or her immediate family, or any other person who is dependent on such defendant for financial support.
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All |
imposition of such fee would work an unreasonable hardship on the defendant, his or her immediate family, or any other person who is dependent on such defendant for financial support. |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
Waiver of fee |
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New York | N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law § 420.35 | Mandatory surcharge and crime victim assistance fee; applicability to sentences mandating payment of fines |
When the court directs that the defendant be imprisoned until the mandatory surcharge, sex offender registration fee or DNA databank fee is satisfied, it must specify a maximum period of + See moreimprisonment not to exceed fifteen days; provided, however, a court may not direct that a defendant be imprisoned until the mandatory surcharge, sex offender registration fee, or DNA databank fee is satisfied or otherwise for failure to pay the mandatory surcharge, sex offender registration fee or DNA databank fee unless the court makes a contemporaneous finding on the record, after according defendant notice and an opportunity to be heard, that the payment of the mandatory surcharge, sex offender registration fee or DNA databank fee upon defendant will not work an unreasonable hardship upon him or her or his or her immediate family.
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All |
unreasonable hardship upon defendant or defendant's immediate family |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
Waiver of fee |
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New York | N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law § 420.40 | Deferral of a mandatory surcharge; financial hardship hearings |
On an appearance date set forth in a summons issued pursuant to subdivision three of section 60.35 of the penal law, section eighteen hundred nine of the vehicle and traffic + See morelaw or section 27.12 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, a person upon whom a mandatory surcharge, sex offender registration fee or DNA databank fee was levied shall have an opportunity to present on the record credible and verifiable information establishing that the mandatory surcharge, sex offender registration fee or DNA databank fee should be deferred, in whole or in part, because, due to the indigence of such person the payment of said surcharge, sex offender registration fee or DNA databank fee would work an unreasonable hardship on the person or his or her immediate family.
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All |
an unreasonable hardship on the person or his or her immediate family |
At defendant's request at enforcement | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Determined by judge after hearing | No |
Deferral |
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Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 258B, § 8 | Assessments imposed by court |
If it is determined by a written finding of fact that an assessment, other than for a civil motor vehicle infraction imposed by this section would cause a substantial financial hardship to the person against whom the assessment is imposed or the person’s immediate family or the person’s dependents, the court may waive the fee or structure a payment plan in order to ensure compliance with payment; provided, however, that the court may order a person required to pay a domestic violence prevention and victim assistance assessment to complete at least 8 hours of community service in order to satisfy such assessment, if a structured payment would continue to impose a severe financial hardship.
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All |
severe financial hardship |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
waive the fee or structure a payment plan; community service in lieu of payment. |
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Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 279, § 1 | Suspension of execution; payment of fine; probation; revocation of suspension; exceptions |
When a person convicted before a court is sentenced to imprisonment, the court may direct that the execution of the sentence, or any part thereof, be suspended and that he be placed on probation for such time and on such terms and conditions as it shall fix. When a person so convicted is sentenced to pay a fine and to stand committed until it is paid, the court may direct that the execution of the sentence, or any part thereof, be suspended for such time as it shall fix and in its discretion that he be placed on probation on condition that he pay the fine within such time. If the fine does not exceed two hundred dollars and the court finds that the defendant is unable to pay it when imposed, the execution of the sentence shall be suspended and he may in its discretion be placed on probation, unless the court shall find that he will probably default, or that such suspension will be detrimental to the interests of the public.
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All |
Not provided for |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
The execution of the sentence, or part of the sentence, may be suspended and the court may in its discretion place the person on probation. |
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Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 111B | Fraudulent Motor Vehicle Insurance Claims; Penalties; Reimbursement of Insurer. |
Upon a real or impending change in financial circumstances, a defendant ordered to pay restitution may petition the court for a modification of the amount, time or method of payment of restitution. If the court finds that because of any such change the payment of restitution will impose an undue financial hardship on the defendant or his family, the court may modify the amount, time or method of payment, but may not grant complete remission from payment of restitution.
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All |
Payment would impose an undue financial hardship on defendant or his family. |
At defendant's request at enforcement | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Remission from any payment of restitution or modify the amount, time or method of payment; |
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Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 111B | Motor vehicle insurance policies; penalty for fraudulent claims |
If a defendant who is required to make restitution defaults in any payment of restitution or installment thereof, the court shall hold him in contempt unless said defendant has made a good faith effort to pay such restitution. If said defendant has made a good faith effort to pay such restitution, the court may modify the amount, time or method of payment, but may not grant complete remission from payment of restitution.
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All |
N/A |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
May modify the amount, time or method of payment, but may not grant complete remission. |
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Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 111B | Fraudulent Motor Vehicle Insurance Claims; Penalties; Reimbursement of Insurer. |
. . . Restitution shall be imposed in addition to incarceration or fine, and not in lieu thereof; provided, however, the court shall consider the defendant’s present and future ability to pay in its determinations regarding a fine; provided, further, that, whenever possible subject to the constraints of this paragraph and the first paragraph of this section, the amount of a fine imposed for a violation of this section shall equal twice the amount of damages or financial loss suffered as a result of the defendant’s crime.
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Felony |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
N/A |
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Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 111B | Fraudulent Motor Vehicle Insurance Claims; Penalties; Reimbursement of Insurer. |
. . . In determining the amount, time and method of payment of restitution, the court shall consider the financial resources of the defendant and the burden restitution will impose on the defendant.
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | Yes | Not provided for |
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Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 127, § 145(a)-(b),(d),(f) | Discharge of Poor Prisoners Held for Nonpayment of Fines. |
(a) A court shall not commit a person to a correctional facility solely for non-payment of money owed if such person has established, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the person is unable to pay the fine without causing substantial financial hardship to the person or their immediate family or dependents. A court shall determine whether the payment of a fine would cause such substantial financial hardship after a hearing and, in making such determination, shall consider the person’s employment status, income, financial resources, living expenses, number of dependents and any special circumstances that may affect a person’s ability to pay.
(b) A court shall not commit a person to a correctional facility for non-payment of money owed if such a person is not represented by counsel for the commitment proceeding, unless such person has waived counsel. A person deemed indigent for the purpose of being offered counsel and who is assigned counsel for the commitment portion of a proceeding solely for the nonpayment of money owed shall not be assessed a fee for such counsel. (d) If a court determines that the payment of a fine would cause a substantial financial hardship pursuant to subsection (a), the court may impose an alternative to a fine or sentence to a correctional facility including, without limitation, community service. (f) A person confined to a correctional facility for non-payment of money owed may petition the court for discharge from the correctional facility for an inability to pay the money owed due to a substantial financial hardship. If, after a hearing pursuant to subsection (a), the court determines that the person is not able to pay the money owed without causing a substantial financial hardship to the person, or the person’s immediate family or dependents, the court shall discharge the person from the correctional facility. No filing fee shall be charged for the filing of the petition. |
All |
Substantial financial hardship to the person or their immediate family or dependents; indigdent; |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
Discharge from jail when confined for nonpayment of fine; alternative to a fine or sentence to a correctional facility including, without limitation, community service; not assessed a fee for counsel. |
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Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 147(e) | Counterfeit Marks — Manufacture, Use or Display. |
Any person convicted under this section shall, in addition to any penalty imposed pursuant to subsection (b), be punished by a fine in an amount not to exceed three times the retail value of the items bearing or of services identified by a counterfeit mark, unless extenuating circumstances are shown by the defendant.
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Misdemeanor |
Extenuating circumstances |
Not provided for | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Determined by judge without hearing | Yes |
N/A |
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Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 27A | Removing or Concealing Motor Vehicles or Trailers to Defraud Insurers; Reimbursement of Insurers. |
Restitution shall be imposed in addition to incarceration or fine, and not in lieu thereof; provided, however, the court shall consider the defendant’s present and future ability to pay in its determinations regarding a find; provided, further, that, whenever possible subject to the constraints of this paragraph and the preceding paragraph, the amount of a fine imposed for a violation of this section shall equal twice the amount of damages or financial loss suffered as a result of the defendant’s crime.
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Felony |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | Yes |
N/A |
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Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 27A | Removing or Concealing Motor Vehicles or Trailers to Defraud Insurers; Reimbursement of Insurers. |
In determining the amount, time and method of payment of restitution, the court shall consider the financial resources of the defendant and the burden restitution will impose on the defendant. Upon a real or impending change in financial circumstances, a defendant ordered to pay restitution may petition the court for a modification of the amount, time or method of payment of restitution. If the court finds that because of any such change the payment of restitution will cause a substantial financial hardship to the defendant or the defendant’s immediate family or the defendant’s dependents, the court may grant remission from any payment of restitution or modify the amount, time or method of payment.
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Felony |
A substantial financial hardship to the defendant or the defendant’s immediate family or the defendant’s dependents |
At defendant's request at enforcement | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Modification of the amount, time or method of payment of restitution; remission from any payment of restitution or modify the amount, time or method of payment. |
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Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 27A | Removing or Concealing Motor Vehicles or Trailers to Defraud Insurers; Reimbursement of Insurers. |
If a defendant who is required to make restitution defaults in any payment of restitution or installment thereof, the court shall hold him in contempt unless said defendant has made a good faith effort to pay such restitution. If said defendant has made a good faith effort to pay such restitution, the court may modify the amount, time or method of payment, but may not grant complete remission from payment of restitution.
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All |
N/A |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
modify the amount, time or method of payment, but may not grant complete remission from payment of restitution. |
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Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, § 14(d) | False Reports Relative to Location of Explosives, etc., Penalized. |
. . . A person found guilty of violating this section shall, in all cases, in addition to any other punishment, be ordered to make restitution to the individual, public or private entity for any costs incurred, damages and financial loss sustained as a result of the commission of the crime. Restitution shall be imposed in addition to incarceration or fine, and not in lieu thereof, however, the court shall consider the defendant’s present and future ability to pay in its determinations regarding a fine. In determining the amount, time and method of payment of restitution, the court shall consider the financial resources of the defendant and the burden restitution will impose on the defendant.
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Felony |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | Yes |
N/A |
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