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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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

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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.

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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Idaho Idaho Code § 31-3204 Victim Notification -- Fee

The court shall charge a fee of fifteen dollars ($ 15.00) for victim notification purposes to be paid by each person found guilty of each felony, misdemeanor or infraction under section

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18-8001 or 49-301, Idaho Code, or first-time infraction under section 23-604 or 23-949, Idaho Code, except when the court orders such fee waived because the person is indigent and unable to pay such fee. Such fee shall be in addition to all other fines and fees levied. Such fee shall be paid to the county treasurer who shall, within five (5) days after the end of the month, pay such fees to the state treasurer for deposit in the state victim notification fund established in section 67-2912, Idaho Code.

All

"Person is indigent and unable to pay such fee."

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

The court may order such fee waived.

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Idaho Idaho Code § 31-3201E Drug Court and Mental Health Court Fee -- Drug Court and Mental Health Court Fund

Each person admitted into a drug court or mental health court shall pay a drug court and mental health court fee in an amount not to exceed three hundred dollars

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($ 300) per month or a lesser amount as set by the administrative district judge for participants in the drug court and mental health court. For good cause, the judge presiding over a drug court or mental health court may exempt a participant from paying all or a portion of the drug court and mental health court fee. The fee imposed under this section shall be paid to the clerk of the district court for deposit into the county drug court and mental health court fund which is hereby created in each county that has a drug court or mental health court. Moneys in this fund may be accumulated from year to year and shall be expended exclusively for expenses incurred in connection with the drug court or mental health court including, but not limited to, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, drug testing, supervision and private counseling services utilized by the drug court or mental health court. Any failure to pay the drug court and mental health court fee may constitute grounds for termination from drug court or mental health court by the court, provided this shall not be the exclusive remedy for collection of the fee. If a participant is terminated from the drug court or mental health court prior to successful completion of the program and a judgment of conviction is entered against the defendant, any unpaid drug court and mental health court fee shall be ordered by the court in the judgment of conviction, provided the court may order such fee to be waived if the court determines that the person is indigent and unable to pay the fee. Such fee shall be in addition to all other fines and fees levied, and the payment of such fee may also be ordered as a term and condition of probation.

All

"The person is indigent and unable to pay the fee."

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

The court may order such fee to be waived.

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Idaho Idaho Code § 31-3201C Community Service Fee

The court shall charge a fee of sixty cents (60 cent(s) ) per hour of community service to be remitted to the state insurance fund for purposes of providing worker's

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compensation insurance for persons performing community service; however, if a county is self-insured and provides worker's compensation insurance for persons performing community service, then remittance to the state insurance fund is not required. This per hour fee shall be paid by each person found guilty of any felony or misdemeanor and community service is provided as part of the sanction or as a condition of a withheld judgment or probation. The court may waive such fee if it determines the person is indigent and unable to pay such fee. Such fees shall be in addition to all other fines and fees levied. Such fees shall be paid to the district court and deposited in the county treasury for payment to the state insurance fund.

All

"The person is indigent and unable to pay such fee."

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

The court may waive such fee.

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Idaho Idaho Code § 31-3201A(2) Court Fees

Felonies and misdemeanors. A fee of seventeen dollars and fifty cents ($ 17.50) shall be paid, but not in advance, by each person found guilty of any felony or misdemeanor,

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except when the court orders such fee waived because the person is indigent and unable to pay such fee. Eleven dollars ($ 11.00) of such fee shall be paid to the county treasurer for deposit in the district court fund of the county, with six dollars ($ 6.00) of such eleven dollars ($ 11.00) dedicated to provide for the suitable and adequate quarters of the magistrate's division of the district court, including the facilities and equipment necessary to make the space provided functional for its intended use, and shall provide for the staff personnel, supplies and other expenses of the magistrate's division; one dollar ($ 1.00) of such filing fee shall be paid to the peace officers standards and training fund established in section 19-5116, Idaho Code; and five dollars and fifty cents ($ 5.50) of such fee shall be paid to the county treasurer who shall pay such fees to the state treasurer for deposit in accordance with subsection (15) of this section.

All

"The person is indigent and unable to pay such fee."

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

The court may order such fee waived.

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Idaho Idaho Code § 31-3220(1)(d);(2);(3) Inability to Pay Fees -- Definitions -- Affidavit

(1) (d)  "Indigent" means a person who is not a prisoner, as defined in section 31-3220A, Idaho Code, and who is found by the court to be unable to pay fees, costs or

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give security for the purpose of prepayment of fees, costs or security in a civil action;   (2) The court may authorize the commencement or defense of any action without prepayment of fees, costs or security, by any indigent person not a prisoner, providing: (a) The person files an affidavit that he is indigent as provided in subsection (3) of this section, and unable to pay fees, costs or give security; and (b) The court finds, after informal inquiry, that the person is indigent for the purpose of prepayment of fees, costs or security;   (3) The affidavit shall contain complete information as to: (a) The person's identity; (b) The nature and amount of his income; (c) His spouse's income; (d) The real and personal property owned; (e) His cash or checking accounts; (f) His dependents; (g) His debts; (h) His monthly expenses; (i) The nature of the action; (j) The affiant’s belief that he is entitled to redress. The affidavit shall also contain the following statements: "I am unable to pay the court costs. I verify that the statements made in this affidavit are true and correct." The affidavit shall be sworn as required by law. 

All

"'Indigent' means a person who is not a prisoner, as defined in section 31-3220A, Idaho Code, and who is found by the court to be unable to pay fees, costs or

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give security for the purpose of prepayment of fees, costs or security in a civil action."

At defendant's request before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge after hearing No

No prepayment of fees, costs or security required.

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Idaho Idaho Code § 19-854 Determination of Indigency -- Factors Considered -- Partial Payment by Accused -- Reimbursement

(1) The determination of whether a person covered under section 19-852, Idaho Code, is an indigent person shall be deferred until his first appearance in court or in a suit

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for payment or reimbursement under section 19-858, Idaho Code, whichever occurs earlier. Thereafter, the court concerned shall determine, with respect to each proceeding, whether he is an indigent person;    (2) The court concerned shall presume that the following persons are indigent persons unless such a determination is contrary to the interests of justice: (a) Persons whose current monthly income does not exceed one hundred eighty-seven percent (187%) of the federal poverty guidelines issued annually by the federal department of health and human services; (b) Persons who receive, or whose dependents receive, public assistance pursuant to title 56, Idaho Code, in the form of food assistance, health coverage, cash assistance or child care assistance; or (c) Persons who are currently serving a sentence in a correctional facility or are being housed in a mental health facility;    (3) The court concerned may determine that persons other than those described in subsection (2) of this section are indigent persons. In determining whether a person is an indigent person and in determining the extent of his inability to pay, the court concerned may consider such factors as income, property owned, outstanding obligations, the number and ages of his dependents and the cost of bail. Participation in the Idaho health insurance exchange shall not result in the presumption of indigence;    (4) Release on bail does not necessarily prevent a person from being an indigent person;    (5) In each case, the person shall, subject to the penalties for perjury, certify in writing or by other record such material factors relating to his ability to pay as the court prescribes by rule. No information provided by a person pursuant to this subsection may be used as substantive evidence in any criminal or civil proceeding against the person except: (a) For impeachment purposes; (b) In a prosecution for perjury or contempt committed in providing the information; or (c) In an attempt to enforce an obligation to reimburse the state for the cost of counsel;    (6) To the extent that a person covered under section 19-852, Idaho Code, is able to provide for an attorney, the other necessary services and facilities of representation, and court costs, the court may order him to provide for their payment;    (7) Upon conviction, notwithstanding the form of judgment or withheld judgment, plea of guilty or finding of guilt for any crime regardless of the original crime or number of counts, an indigent person who receives the services of an attorney provided by the county may be required by the court to reimburse the county for all or a portion of the cost of those services related to the conviction, plea of guilty or finding of guilt, unless the requirement would impose a manifest hardship on the indigent person. The current inability of the indigent person to pay the reimbursement shall not, in and of itself, restrict the court from ordering reimbursement.

All

"The court concerned shall presume that the following persons are indigent persons unless such a determination is contrary to the interests of justice: (a) Persons whose current monthly income does

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not exceed one hundred eighty-seven percent (187%) of the federal poverty guidelines issued annually by the federal department of health and human services; (b) Persons who receive, or whose dependents receive, public assistance pursuant to title 56, Idaho Code, in the form of food assistance, health coverage, cash assistance or child care assistance; or (c) Persons who are currently serving a sentence in a correctional facility or are being housed in a mental health facility."

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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Idaho Idaho Code § 20-619(1);(3) Fee for Medical Service

(1)  County sheriff departments administering county jails may charge a nominal fee of twenty dollars ($ 20.00) to any nonindigent inmate who has sufficient funds in his commissary or personal account

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for the purpose of seeing the jail provided doctor or nurse for a medical complaint. In the event that an inmate is indigent, such service shall be provided by the county at no cost;   (3)  A "nonindigent" inmate, for purposes of this section, is an inmate who has money in his commissary or personal account normally used for the purchase of personal items for the inmate.

All

"A "nonindigent" inmate, for purposes of this section, is an inmate who has money in his commissary or personal account normally used for the purchase of personal items for the

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inmate."

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

"Such service shall be provided by the county at no cost."

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 31.211(1)
Determination of ability to pay partial fee for representation and services at arraignment; collection of unpaid partial fee by civil judgment; partial fee credited to local office or department; funds
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placed in special trust and agency account

At arraignment, the court shall conduct a nonadversarial hearing to determine whether a person who has requested a public defender is able to pay a partial fee for legal representation,

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the other necessary services and facilities of representation, and court costs. The court shall order payment in an amount determined by the court and may order that the payment be made in a lump sum or by installment payments to recover money for representation provided under this chapter. This partial fee determination shall be made at each stage of the proceedings.

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Not provided for

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

If the court finds that an individual is unable to pay (is "needy") the court shall waive all costs, see Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 31.110

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 534.020 "Methods of imposing fines; installment payment plan; determination of reason for defendant's default; show cause hearing; certain installment payments not to be reported as liquidated debt"

(2) If the court establishes an installment payment plan for a defendant to pay the full amount of court costs, fees, or fines: (a) The defendant shall be given notice

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of the total amount due, the payment frequency, and the date by which all payments must be made. The notice shall indicate that if the defendant has not complied with the installment payment plan by the scheduled date, he or she shall appear on that date to show good cause as to why he or she is unable to satisfy the obligations. This notice shall be given to the defendant in writing on a form provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts;
(3)(a) If a defendant is required to appear at a show cause hearing pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of this section, the court shall determine whether the defendant's default in payment of court costs, fees, or fines is: 1. Excusable due to an inability to pay, and if so, the court may enter an order allowing additional time for payment, reducing the amount of each installment, or modifying the manner of payment in any other way; or 2. Willful and not due to an inability to pay, and if so, the court may order the defendant to jail on the condition that the defendant shall be released upon payment or completion of daily credit pursuant to KRS 534.070.

All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Allowing additional time for payment, reducing the amount of each installment, or modifying the manner of payment in any other way.