50-State Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder Bringing transparency to areas of significant legal complexity.
Ability to Pay
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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.
26 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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Alabama | Ala.Code 1975 § 12-19-182(b) | Solicitor's fee |
The solicitor's fee shall be collected in all criminal cases where the defendant is adjudged guilty, a bond forfeited, a penalty imposed, or where there is issued any alias or + See morecapias warrant of arrest. The solicitor's fee shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other fees or costs. The solicitor's fee shall not be waived or remitted unless the defendant proves to the reasonable satisfaction of the sentencing judge that the defendant is not capable of paying the fee within the reasonable foreseeable future.
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"capable of paying the fee within the reasonable foreseeable future." |
Not provided for | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | No | Not provided for |
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Alabama | Ala.Code 1975 § 12-23-18 | Alcohol and Drug Abuse Court Referral and Treatment Program: Waiver of fees |
Any person determined to be indigent by the court may request waiver of all or part of the fees established by this chapter. In such cases where a waiver of fees is granted, such waiver shall be limited to the time when the offender is unable to pay. If the offender becomes able to pay during the course of monitoring or treatment, or another future date, the waiver of fees may be revoked. The judge may order an indigent offender to perform community service in lieu of payment of fees.
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All | Not provided for | At defendant's request at enforcement | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | No | Not provided for |
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Alabama | Ala.Code 1975 § 12-17-226.18 | Pretrial diversion program: payment of costs |
Notwithstanding subsection (c) of Section 12-17-226.10, upon conviction for any criminal offense, felony, misdemeanor, or violation of the Code of Alabama 1975, or ordinance violation, any fees or costs shall not be waived or remitted unless the defendant or party responsible for paying the fees proves to the reasonable satisfaction of the presiding or sentencing judge that the defendant or party is not capable of paying the fees or costs within the reasonably foreseeable future.
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All |
"capable of paying the fees or costs within the reasonably foreseeable future" |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No | Not provided for |
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Alabama | Al. R. Cr. P. 26.11(b) | Fines and Restitution: Imposition of Fine |
(b) IMPOSITION OF FINE. If the court is given authority to impose a fine, in determining whether to impose a fine, the court should consider:(1) Whether there are particular reasons which make a fine appropriate as punishment for the defendant; (2) The financial resources and obligations of the defendant and the burden that payment of a fine will impose; (3) The ability of the defendant to pay a fine forthwith on an installment basis or on other conditions to be fixed by the court; (4) The extent to which payment of a fine will interfere with the ability of the defendant to make restitution or reparation to the victim of the crime; and (5) The amount of gain derived by the defendant or loss sustained by the victim as a result of defendant's commission of the offense, which amount shall be determined by the court from evidence presented at the sentence hearing if not stipulated by the parties.
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
(d) If the defendant cannot pay the costs, fine, and/or restitution immediately after pronouncement of the sentence as preferred, the court may permit payment of the costs, fine, and/or restitution, at some later date, or in specified installments. (h) REMEDIES FOR NONPAYMENT OF FINE OR RESTITUTION. If the defendant fails to pay a fine and/or restitution, the court may: (1) Reduce the fine to an amount the defendant is able to pay; (2) Continue or modify the schedule of payments of the fine and/or restitution; (3) Direct that the defendant be incarcerated until the unpaid fine and/or restitution, or any portion thereof, is paid, subject, however, to section (i) of this rule; (4) Order an employer to withhold amounts from wages to pay fines and/or restitution; or (5) Release the defendant from obligation to pay the fine.
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Alabama | Ala.Code 1975 § 12-23-7 | Drug testing program |
Any person who fails to complete treatment and pay for it shall be charged with violation of probation or parole; provided, however, that indigents shall not be required to pay for treatment or monitoring provided by court referral officers.
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes | Not provided for |
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Alabama | Ala.Code 1975 § 12-17-226.8(c) | Pretrial diversion program: Assessment of administrative fee; indigence; use of funds. |
c)(1) An applicant may not be denied access into the pretrial diversion program based solely on his or her inability to pay pretrial diversion program fees. Fees established by this division may be waived or reduced for just cause, including indigency of the applicant.(2) If an offender, upon application, claims indigency, he or she shall be brought before a court of competent jurisdiction for a determination of indigency. In the event that a court determines the offender to be indigent, any fees or costs shall not be waived or remitted unless the defendant or the party responsible for paying any fees or costs proves to the reasonable satisfaction of the judge presiding or sentencing judge that the defendant or party is not capable of paying the same within the reasonably foreseeable future. In the event the offender is determined to be indigent, a periodic review of the offender's indigent status may be conducted by the court upon motion of the district attorney to determine if the offender is no longer indigent.
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All | Not provided for | At defendant's request before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Determined by judge after hearing | No | Not provided for |
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Alabama | Ala.Code 1975 § 15-12-25(a)(2) | Appointed counsel: Payment of fees by defendant. |
The court shall not order a defendant to pay the fees of court appointed counsel unless the defendant is or will be able to pay them. In determining the amount and method of payment of these fees, the court shall take into account the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that payment of the fees will impose. A defendant who has been ordered to pay the fees of court appointed counsel and who is not in contumacious default in the payment thereof may at any time petition the court which sentenced him or her for remission of the payment of these fees 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 immediate family of the defendant, the court may remit all or part of the amount due in fees or modify the method of payment.
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All |
"manifest hardship" |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
The court may remit all or part of the amount due in fees or modify the method of payment. |
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Alabama | Ala. Code 1975 §15-18-68(a)(1) | Restitution to victims of crimes: Determination of amount |
(a) In determining the manner, method, or amount of restitution to be ordered, the court may take into consideration all of the following: (1) The financial resources of the defendant and the victim and the burden that the manner or method of restitution will impose upon the victim or the defendant.
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All |
Not provided for |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
Not provided for |
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Alabama | Ala. Code 1975 §15-27-12 | Expungement of records: Payment in full required |
No order of expungement shall be granted unless all terms and conditions, including court ordered restitution, are satisfied and paid in full, including interest, to any victim, or the Alabama Crime Victim’s Compensation Commission, as well as court costs, fines, or statutory fees ordered by the sentencing court to have been paid, absent a finding of indigency by the court.
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All |
Indigency |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Administrative decision | No |
Not provided for |
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Alabama | Ala. Code 1975 §15-27-4(a)-(b) | Expungement of records: Administrative filling fee. |
(a) In addition to any cost of court or docket fee for filing the petition in circuit court, an administrative filing fee of three hundred dollars ($300) shall be paid at the time the petition is filed and is a condition precedent to any ruling of the court pursuant to this chapter.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a person seeking relief under this chapter may apply for indigent status by completing an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship and Order which shall be submitted with the petition. If the court finds the petitioner is indigent, the court may set forth a payment plan for the petitioner to satisfy the filing fee over a period of time, which shall be paid in full, prior to any order granting an expungement. |
All |
Indigent |
At defendant's request before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Administrative decision | No |
Payment plan |
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Alabama | Ala.Code 1975 §15-22-2(a)(1) | Payment of costs of supervision. |
(a)(1) Any person who is placed on parole by the Board of Pardons and Paroles or any person who is granted probation by a court of competent jurisdiction and who is subject to supervision by the Board of Pardons and Paroles and who has an income shall be required to contribute forty dollars ($40) per month toward the cost of his or her supervision and rehabilitation beginning 30 days from the date he or she has an income. The sum shall be deducted by the parolee or probationer from his or her monthly income and delivered to the Board of Pardons and Paroles each month for deposit in the General Fund of the State Treasury. By prior agreement between an employer and employee, an employer may deduct forty dollars ($40) from the monthly net earned income of the parolee or probationer and remit the amount to the Board of Pardons and Paroles each month. The responsibility of assuring the contribution shall remain that of the parolee or probationer. Exemptions from payments required by this section may be granted for undue hardship on a case by case basis by the sentencing court in probation and the Board of Pardons and Paroles in parole cases.
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Misdemeanor, Felony |
Undue hardship |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
Exemption from payment |
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Alabama | Al. R. Cr. P. 26.11(b), (g) | Fines and Restitution: Imposition of Fine and Inquiry into Defendant's Ability to Pay Fine or Restitution |
(b) If the court is given authority to impose a fine, in determining whether to impose a fine, the court should consider: (1) Whether there are particular reasons which make a fine appropriate as punishment for the defendant; (2) The financial resources and obligations of the defendant and the burden that payment of a fine will impose; (3) The ability of the defendant to pay a fine forthwith on an installment basis or on other conditions to be fixed by the court; (4) The extent to which payment of a fine will interfere with the ability of the defendant to make restitution or reparation to the victim of the crime; and (5) The amount of gain derived by the defendant or loss sustained by the victim as a result of defendant's commission of the offense, which amount shall be determined by the court from evidence presented at the sentence hearing if not stipulated by the parties.
(g) If a defendant fails to pay a fine or restitution as directed, the court may inquire and cause an investigation to be made into the defendant's financial, employment, and family standing, and the reasons for nonpayment of the fine and/or restitution, including whether nonpayment of the fine and/or restitution was contumacious or due to indigency.
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All |
Indigency, |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
(h) REMEDIES FOR NONPAYMENT OF FINE OR RESTITUTION. If the defendant fails to pay a fine and/or restitution, the court may: (1) Reduce the fine to an amount the defendant is able to pay; (2) Continue or modify the schedule of payments of the fine and/or restitution; (3) Direct that the defendant be incarcerated until the unpaid fine and/or restitution, or any portion thereof, is paid, subject, however, to section (i) of this rule; (4) Order an employer to withhold amounts from wages to pay fines and/or restitution; or (5) Release the defendant from obligation to pay the fine.
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2284 | Probation or parole; revocation; conditions |
If the defendant is placed on probation or paroled, the court may revoke probation, and the Board of Parole may revoke parole if the defendant fails to comply with the + See morerestitution order. In determining whether to revoke probation or parole, the court or Board of Parole shall consider the defendant's earning ability and financial resources, the willfulness of the defendant's failure to pay, and any special circumstances affecting the defendant's ability to pay. Probation or parole may not be revoked unless noncompliance with the restitution order is attributable to an intentional refusal to obey the order or a failure to make a good faith effort to comply with the order.
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All | Not provided for | At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
N/A |
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2206(1)(a),(2) | Fine and costs; commitment until paid; installments; deduction from bond; suspension or revocation of motor vehicle operator's license |
(1) (a) In all cases in which courts or magistrates have now or may hereafter have the power to punish offenses, either in whole or in part, by requiring the offender to pay fines or costs, or both, such courts or magistrates may make it a part of the sentence that the party stand committed and be imprisoned in the jail of the proper county until the fines or costs are paid or secured to be paid or the offender is otherwise discharged according to law if the court or magistrate determines that the offender has the financial ability to pay such fines or costs. The court or magistrate may make such determination at the sentencing hearing or at a separate hearing prior to sentencing. A separate hearing shall not be required. In making such determination, the court or magistrate may consider the information or evidence adduced in an earlier proceeding pursuant to section 29-3902, 29-3903, 29-3906, or 29-3916. At any such hearing, the offender shall have the opportunity to present information as to his or her income, assets, debts, or other matters affecting his or her financial ability to pay. Following such hearing and prior to imposing sentence, the court or magistrate shall determine the offender’s financial ability to pay the fines or costs, including his or her financial ability to pay in installments under subsection (2) of this section.
(2) If the court or magistrate determines, pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, that an offender is financially unable to pay such fines or costs in one lump sum but is financially capable of paying in installments, the court or magistrate shall make arrangements suitable to the court or magistrate and to the offender by which the offender may pay in installments. The court or magistrate shall enter an order specifying the terms of such arrangements and the dates on which payments are to be made. |
All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Determined by judge after hearing | Yes |
Payment in installments. |
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2412(2) | Fine and costs; nonpayment; commutation upon confinement; credit; amount. |
(2) Whenever it is made satisfactorily to appear to the district court, or to the county judge of the proper county, after all legal means have been exhausted, that any person who is confined in jail for any fines or costs of prosecution for any criminal offense has no estate with which to pay such fines or costs, it shall be the duty of such court or judge, on his or her own motion or upon the motion of the person so confined, to discharge such person from further imprisonment for such fines or costs, which discharge shall operate as a complete release of such fines or costs.
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All |
No estate with which to pay such fines or costs |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
If imprisoned for nonpayment of fines and costs, then discharged from prison. |
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2412(1)(a),(c) | Fine and costs; nonpayment; commutation upon confinement; credit; amount |
(1) (a) Any person arrested and brought into custody on a warrant for failure to pay fines or costs, for failure to appear before a court or magistrate on the due date of such fines or costs, or for failure to comply with the terms of an order pursuant to sections 29-2206 and 29-2206.01, shall be entitled to a hearing on the first regularly scheduled court date following the date of arrest. The purpose of such hearing shall be to determine the person’s financial ability to pay such fines or costs. At the hearing, the person shall have the opportunity to present information as to his or her income, assets, debts, or other matters affecting his or her financial ability to pay. Following the hearing, the court or magistrate shall determine the person’s ability to pay the fines or costs, including his or her financial ability to pay by installment payments as described in section 29-2206;
(c) If the court or magistrate determines that the person is financially unable to pay the fines or costs, the court or magistrate: (i) Shall either: (A) Enter an order pursuant to subdivision (1)(d) of this section discharging the person of such fines or costs; or (B) If the person is subject to an order to pay installments pursuant to section 29-2206, the court or magistrate shall either enter an order pursuant to subdivision (1)(d) of this section discharging the person of such obligation or make any necessary modifications to the order specifying the terms of the installment payments as justice may require and that will enable the person to pay the fines or costs; and (ii) May order the person to complete community service for a specified number of hours pursuant to sections 29-2277 to 29-2279;
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All | Not provided for | At defendant's request at enforcement | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | Yes |
Discharge payment of fines; installment payments; community service in lieu of fines. |
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2262.06(4) | Fees; waiver; when; failure to pay; effect |
The court shall waive payment of the monthly probation programming fees in whole or in part if after a hearing a determination is made that such payment would constitute an undue hardship on the offender due to limited income, employment or school status, or physical or mental handicap. Such waiver shall be in effect only during the period of time that the probationer or participant in a non-probation-based program or service is unable to pay his or her monthly probation programming fee.
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All |
Undue hardship due to limited income, employment or school status, or physical or mental hardship |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | No |
Waive payment of the monthly probation programming fees |
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2281 | Restitution; determination of amount; manner of payment |
To determine the amount of restitution, the court may hold a hearing at the time of sentencing. The amount of restitution shall be based on the actual damages sustained by the victim and shall be supported by evidence which shall become a part of the court record. The court shall consider the defendant’s earning ability, employment status, financial resources, and family or other legal obligations and shall balance such considerations against the obligation to the victim. In considering the earning ability of a defendant who is sentenced to imprisonment, the court may receive evidence of money anticipated to be earned by the defendant during incarceration. A person may not be granted or denied probation or parole either solely or primarily due to his or her financial resources or ability or inability to pay restitution. The court may order that restitution be made immediately, in specified installments, or within a specified period of time not to exceed five years after the date of judgment or defendant’s final release date from imprisonment, whichever is later
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All |
Defendant's earning ability, employment status, financial resources, and family or other legal obligations and shall balance such considerations against the obligation to the victim. In considering the earning ability of a defendant who is sentenced to imprisonment, the court may receive evidence of money anticipated to be earned by the defendant during incarceration.
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At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | Yes |
N/A |
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2262(2)(m) | Probation; conditions |
(2) The court may, as a condition of a sentence of probation, require the offender: offender assessment screens, and rehabilitative services required in the identification, evaluation, and treatment of offenders if such offender has the financial ability to pay for such services;
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
N/A |
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2208(1)-(2),(4) | Fines or costs; person financially unable to pay; hearing; determination; court or magistrate; powers; order; operate as release |
(1) A person who has been ordered to pay fines or costs and who has not been arrested or brought into custody as described in subdivision (1)(a) of section 29-2412 but who believes himself or herself to be financially unable to pay such fines or costs may request a hearing to determine such person's financial ability to pay such fines or costs. The hearing shall be scheduled on the first regularly scheduled court date following the date of the request. Pending the hearing, the person shall not be arrested or brought into custody for failure to pay such fines or costs or failure to appear before a court or magistrate on the due date of such fines or costs.
(2) At the hearing, the person shall have the opportunity to present information as to his or her income, assets, debts, or other matters affecting his or her financial ability to pay. Following the hearing, the court or magistrate shall determine the person's financial ability to pay the fines or costs, including his or her financial ability to pay in installments as described in section 29-2206. (4) If the court or magistrate determines that the person is financially unable to pay the fines or costs, the court or magistrate: (a) Shall either: (i) Enter an order pursuant to subsection (5) of this section discharging the person of such fines or costs; or (ii) If the person is subject to an order to pay installments pursuant to section 29-2206, the court or magistrate shall either enter an order pursuant to subsection (5) of this section discharging the person of such obligation or make any necessary modifications to the order specifying the terms of the installment payments as justice may require and that will enable the person to pay the fines or costs; and (b) May order the person to complete community service for a specified number of hours pursuant to sections 29-2277 to 29-2279. |
All |
Not provided for |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | No |
Waive fines or costs; discharge person of installment order to pay fines or costs; make any necessary modifications to the order specifying the terms of the installment payments as justice may require and that will enable the person to pay the fines or costs; order the person to complete community service.
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The Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder is a project of the National Criminal Justice Debt Initiative of the Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard Law School in collaboration with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University and with user experience design by metaLAB (at) Harvard.
For more information, please visit cjpp.law.harvard.edu.