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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Alaska Alaska Stat. Ann. § 12.55.051(c) Enforcement of Fines and Restitution

A defendant who has been sentenced to pay a fine or restitution may request a hearing regarding the defendant's ability to pay the fine or restitution at any time that

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the defendant is required to pay all or a portion of the fine or restitution. The court may deny the request if it has previously considered the defendant's ability to pay and the defendant's request does not allege changed circumstances. If, at a hearing under this subsection, the defendant proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant will be unable through good faith efforts to satisfy the order requiring payment of the fine or restitution, the court shall modify the order so that the defendant can pay the fine or restitution through good faith efforts. The court may reduce the fine ordered, change the payment schedule, or otherwise modify the order. The court may not reduce an order of restitution but may change the payment schedule.

All

"Defendant will be unable through good faith efforts to satisfy the order requiring payment of the fine or restitution."

At defendant's request at enforcement Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge after hearing No

Reduction of fine; modification of fee schedule; or any other modification the Court thinks appropriate.

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Alaska Alaska Stat. Ann. § 18.85.120 Determination of Indigency; Repayment

(a) The determination of a person's indigency shall be made by the court in which an action against the person is pending. The determination shall be made by the court

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and shall set out the basis for the finding that the person is indigent. (b) In determining whether a person is indigent and in determining the extent of the person's inability to pay, the court shall consider such factors as income, property owned, outstanding obligations, and the number and ages of dependents. Release on bail does not preclude a finding that a person is indigent. In each case, the person, subject to the penalties for perjury, shall certify under oath, and in writing or by other record, material factors relative to the person's financial resources and ability to pay that the court prescribes.

All

"The court shall consider such factors as income, property owned, outstanding obligations, and the number and ages of dependents."

Before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge without hearing No Not provided for
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Alaska Alaska Stat. Ann. § 12.55.039(b) Surcharge

A court may not fail to impose the surcharge required under this section. The surcharge may not be waived, deferred, or suspended. A court may allow a defendant who is

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unable to pay the surcharge required to be imposed under this section to perform community work under AS 12.55.055(c) in lieu of the surcharge.

All

"Unable to pay the surcharge."

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

Community Service

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Alaska Alaska Stat. § 12.55.045(g),(j),(k) Restitution and Compensation

(g) The court may not, in ordering the amount of restitution, consider the defendant’s ability to pay restitution; (j)  A defendant who is convicted of an offense for which restitution may be

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ordered shall submit financial information as ordered by the court. The Alaska Court System shall prepare a form, in consultation with the Department of Law, for the submission of the information; the form must include a warning that submission of incomplete or inaccurate information is punishable as unsworn falsification in the second degree under AS 11.56.210. A defendant who is convicted of (1) a felony shall submit the form to the probation office within 30 days after conviction, and the probation officer shall attach the form to the presentence report, or (2) a misdemeanor shall file the form with the defendant’s response or opposition to the restitution amount. The defendant shall provide a copy of the completed form to the prosecuting authority;  (k)  The court, on its own motion or at the request of the prosecuting authority or probation officer, may order a defendant on probation who has been ordered to pay restitution to submit financial information to the court using the form specified in (j) of this section. The defendant shall file the completed form with the court within five days after the court’s order. The defendant shall provide a copy of the completed form to the prosecuting authority and the person’s probation officer, if any.

All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No Not provided for
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Alaska Alaska Stat. § 18.85.155(a) Payment by Municipality

When a municipality prosecutes a person who has been determined by the court to be indigent under AS 18.85.120 for a violation of a municipal ordinance that is a serious crime, the

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municipality shall pay for the services of the attorney appointed by the court to defend the indigent person.

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"Indigent under AS 18.85.120"

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

The municipality shall pay for the services of the attorney appointed by the court to defend the indigent person.

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Alaska Alaska Stat. § 33.30.028(b) Responsibility for Costs of Medical Care

The commissioner shall require prisoners who are without resources under (a) of this section to pay the costs of medical, psychological, and psychiatric care provided to them by the department.

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At a minimum, the prisoner shall be required to pay a portion of the costs based upon the prisoner’s ability to pay.

All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Administrative decision No

Required to pay a portion of the costs.

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Alaska Alaska Stat. § 12.55.100(f) Conditions of Probation

 

While on probation and as a special condition of probation for an offense where the aggravating factor provided in AS 12.55.155(c)(29) has been proven or admitted, the court shall require that the

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defendant submit to electronic monitoring. Electronic monitoring under this subsection must provide for monitoring of the defendant’s location and movements by Global Positioning System technology. The court shall require a defendant serving a period of probation with electronic monitoring as provided under this subsection to pay all or a portion of the costs of the electronic monitoring, but only if the defendant has sufficient financial resources to pay the costs or a portion of the costs. A defendant subject to electronic monitoring under this subsection is not entitled to a credit for time served in a correctional facility while the defendant is on probation. In this subsection, “correctional facility” has the meaning given in AS 33.30.901.

All

"Sufficient financial resources to pay the costs or a portion of the costs."

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No Not provided for
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Alaska Alaska Stat. § 09.19.010 Limitation on Exemption From Filing Fees

(c)  Based on the submission under (b) of this section, the court may grant an exemption from part of the applicable filing fees if the court finds that exceptional circumstances

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prevent the prisoner from paying full filing fees. Imprisonment and indigency do not constitute exceptional circumstances if the prisoner has available income or resources that can be applied to the filing fee; (d)  If the court orders an exemption under (c) of this section, the court shall determine the amount of the exemption and set a filing fee to be paid by the prisoner. In setting the fee, the court, at a minimum, shall require the prisoner to pay filing fees equal to 20 percent of the larger of the average monthly deposits made to the prisoner’s account described in (b)(2) of this section, or the average balance in that account, not to exceed the amount of the full filing fee required under applicable court rules.

All

"Exceptional circumstances prevent the prisoner from paying full filing fees"

At defendant's request before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Administrative decision No

Fee is recalculated based on prisoner's resources.

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 533.030(2)(l) Conditions of probation and conditional discharge; restitution to victim

(2) When imposing a sentence of probation or conditional discharge, the court may, in addition to any other reasonable condition, require that the defendant:

(l) Submit to periodic testing for the

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use of controlled substances or alcohol, if the defendant's record indicates a controlled substance or alcohol problem, and to pay a reasonable fee, as determined by the court, which fee shall not exceed the actual cost of the test and analysis and shall be paid directly to the agency or agencies responsible for testing and analysis as compensation for the cost of the testing and analysis, as specified by written order of the court, performed under this subsection. For good cause shown, the testing fee may be waived by the court;

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Not provided for

Not provided for Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing No

Fee waived

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 533.030(2)(m) Conditions of probation and conditional discharge; restitution to victim

(2) When imposing a sentence of probation or conditional discharge, the court may, in addition to any other reasonable condition, require that the defendant:

(m) Use an alcohol monitoring device, as

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defined in KRS 431.068. All costs associated with the device, including administrative and operating costs, shall be paid by the defendant.  If the court determines that the defendant is indigent, and a person, county, or other organization has not agreed to pay the costs for the defendant in an attempt to reduce incarceration expenses and increase public safety, the court shall consider other conditions of probation or conditional discharge provided for in this section;

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Indigency

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Alternative method of probation or conditional discharge imposed

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 534.030(2) Fines for felonies

(2) In determining the amount and method of paying a fine for commission of a felony, the court shall consider, among others, the following factors: (a) The defendant's ability to

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pay the amount of the fine; (b) The hardship likely to be imposed on the defendant's dependents by the amount of the fine and the time and method of paying it; (c) The impact the amount of the fine will have on the defendant's ability to make reparation or restitution to the victim; and (d) The amount of the defendant's gain, if any, derived from the commission of the offense.

Felony Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing Yes

Not specified

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 534.045(1)-(3) Assessment of reimbursement fee against jail prisoners; collection; fee determination; relevant evidence; modification

(1) Pursuant to a conviction of a misdemeanor, including traffic offenses, where a person is sentenced to incarceration in the county jail, the District Court may assess a reimbursement fee

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to help defray the expenses of the prisoner's room and board. The reimbursement fee shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the prisoner's gross daily wages or forty dollars ($40) per day, whichever is less. All moneys shall be paid directly to the jailer.

(2) In determining whether a reimbursement fee as described in subsection (1) of this section is to be assessed, and in establishing the amount of the fee, the court shall consider evidence relevant to the prisoner's ability to pay the fee . . . 

(3) After considering all relevant evidence to the issue of the prisoner's ability to pay, the court shall enter as part of its judgment the amount of the reimbursement fee, if any, that shall be paid by the prisoner during his period of incarceration in the county jail. The fee shall bear a reasonable relationship to the person's income. Upon petition by the prisoner affected by the order, the amount may be modified to reflect any changes in the financial status of the prisoner. In any appeal that might be taken from the conviction, the amount of the reimbursement fee may be challenged.

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

Not specified

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 510.320(2)-(3),(6) Human immunodeficiency virus testing for defendants accused of certain sexual offenses; results; counseling when test positive; cost; effect of appeal

(2) A defendant charged with an offense pursuant to this chapter which has sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse as an element, or has sexual contact as an element when

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the circumstances of the case demonstrate a possibility of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, shall upon initial court appearance on the charge, be informed by the judge of the availability of human immunodeficiency virus testing. The judge shall also notify the victim of the offense, or parent or guardian of the victim, that the defendant has been so notified.

(3) When a defendant has been convicted of any offense in subsection (2) of this section, other provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the sentencing court, regardless of any prior human immunodeficiency virus test, shall order the defendant to undergo a human immunodeficiency virus test, under the direction of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services...

(6) The cost of testing under this section shall be paid by the defendant tested, unless the court has determined the defendant to be indigent.

All

Indigency

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing Yes

Not specified

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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.

All

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. § 24A.175 Court costs for criminal cases in District Court; payment required; exceptions; treatment of minor defendant

The taxation of court costs against a defendant, upon conviction in a case, including persons sentenced to state traffic school as provided under KRS 186.574, shall be mandatory and shall not

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be subject to probation, suspension, proration, deduction, or other form of nonimposition in the terms of a plea bargain or otherwise, unless the court finds that the defendant is a poor person as defined by KRS 453.190(2) and that he or she is unable to pay court costs and will be unable to pay the court costs in the foreseeable future.

All

Not provided for

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

Not specified

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 24A.178(3) Additional fee for sex crime, stalking, or related inchoate offenses

The court may waive all or any portion of the fee required by this section if the court finds that a person subject to the surcharge is indigent or financially

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unable to pay all or any portion of the surcharge. The court may waive only the portion of the surcharge that the court finds the person is financially unable to pay.

All

"Indigent or financially unable to pay"

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

Waiver of fee

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 441.265(2)(b) Required reimbursement by prisoner of costs of confinement; local policy of fee and expense rates; billing and collection methods

(b) Rates charged may be adjusted in accordance with the fee and expense reimbursement policy based upon the ability of the prisoner confined to the jail to pay, giving consideration to

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any legal obligation of the prisoner to support a spouse, minor children, or other dependents. The prisoner's interest in any jointly owned property and the income, assets, earnings, or other property owned by the prisoner's spouse or family shall not be used to determine a prisoner's ability to pay.

All

Not provided for

Not provided for Not provided for Administrative decision No

Not specified

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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.

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 441.265(5) "Required reimbursement by prisoner of costs of confinement; local policy of fee and expense rates; billing and collection methods"

(5) The governing body of the county may require a prisoner who is confined in the county jail to pay a reasonable fee, not exceeding actual cost, for any medical

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treatment or service received by the prisoner. However, no prisoner confined in the jail shall be denied any necessary medical care because of inability to pay.

All

Not provided for

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

N/A

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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 532.454(5) Persons prohibited from probation or postincarceration supervision; procedure when probation or postincarceration supervision not prohibited

(5) The offender shall pay for any evaluation or treatment required pursuant to this section up to the offender's ability to pay but not more than the actual cost of

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the comprehensive sex offender presentence evaluation or treatment.

All

Not provided for

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

N/A