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.

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"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.

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"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.

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"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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Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-804.01(B)(2) Reimbursement of Incarceration Costs; Misdemeanors B. The court may determine the amount of incarceration costs to be paid based on the following factors:2. The person's ability to pay part or all of the incarceration costs. Misdemeanor Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No

A lower cost based upon the defendant's ability to pay.

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Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-914(E)(2) Intensive probation; evaluation; sentence; criteria; limit; conditions
Paying restitution and probation fees of not less than seventy-five dollars unless, after determining the inability of the offender to pay the fee, the court assesses a lesser fee. Probation
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fees shall be deposited in the adult probation services fund established by § 12-267. Any amount assessed pursuant to this paragraph shall be used to supplement monies used for the salaries of adult probation and surveillance officers and for support of programs and services of the superior court adult probation departments.
All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

Lower restitution or fee based upon the defendant's ability to pay.

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Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-810(E) Consequences of nonpayment of fines, surcharges, fees, assessments, restitution or incarceration costs

(E)If the court finds that the defendant has wilfully failed to pay a fine, a surcharge, a fee, an assessment, restitution or incarceration costs or finds that the defendant has

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intentionally refused to make a good faith effort to obtain the monies required for the payment, the court shall find that the default constitutes contempt and may do any of the following:

1. Order the defendant incarcerated in the county jail until the fine, surcharge, fee, assessment, restitution or incarceration costs, or a specified part of the fine, surcharge, fee, assessment, restitution or incarceration costs, is paid.

2. Refer the defendant for revocation of probation, parole or community supervision as authorized by law.

3. Enter an order pursuant to section 13-812. The levy or execution for the collection of a fine, a surcharge, a fee, an assessment, restitution or incarceration costs does not discharge a defendant who is incarcerated for nonpayment of the fine, surcharge, fee, assessment, restitution or incarceration costs until the amount of the fine, surcharge, fee, assessment, restitution or incarceration costs is collected.

4. Order the defendant to perform community restitution.

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

Modified payment arrangements

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Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-824(A) Community restitution in lieu off monetary obligation

A. Notwithstanding any other law, if a monetary obligation is imposed on a defendant at sentencing and the court finds the defendant is unable to pay all or part of the monetary obligation, the

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court may order the defendant to perform community restitution in lieu of the payment for all or part of the monetary obligation. The amount of community restitution shall be equivalent to the amount of the monetary obligation by crediting any service performed at a rate of ten dollars per hour.

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

Community Restitution

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Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 12-116.01(F) Surcharges; remittance reports; fund deposits

The judge may waive all or part of the civil penalty, fine, forfeiture and surcharge, except for mandatory civil penalties and fines, the payment of which would work a hardship

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on the persons convicted or adjudicated or on their immediate families. If a fine or civil penalty is mandatory, the judge may waive only all or part of the surcharges prescribed by subsections A, B and C of this section and § 12-116.02. If a fine or civil penalty is not mandatory and if a portion of the civil penalty, fine, forfeiture and surcharge is waived or suspended, the amount assessed must be divided according to the proportion that the civil penalty, fine, bail or bond and the surcharge represent of the total amount due.

All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

A lower cost fine or fee based upon the defendant's ability to pay.

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California Cal. Veh. Code § 14601.5(e) Driving with suspended license
In imposing the minimum fine required by subdivision (d), the court shall take into consideration the defendant's ability to pay the fine and may, in the interest of justice, and
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for reasons stated in the record, reduce the amount of that minimum fine to less than the amount otherwise imposed.
Traffic

NA

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

Court may waive or reduce fine

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California Gov. Code Sec. 68630 The Judicial Council - Waiver of Court Fees and Cost: Legislative findings and declarations

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) That our legal system cannot provide "equal justice under law" unless all persons have access to the courts without regard to

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their economic means. California law and court procedures should ensure that court fees are not a barrier to court access for those with insufficient economic means to pay those fees.

(b) That fiscal responsibility should be tempered with concern for litigants' rights to access the justice system. The procedure for allowing the poor to use court services without paying ordinary fees must be one that applies rules fairly to similarly situated persons, is accessible to those with limited knowledge of court processes, and does not delay access to court services. The procedure for determining if a litigant may file a lawsuit without paying a fee must not interfere with court access for those without the financial means to do so.

(c) That those who are able to pay court fees should do so, and that courts should be allowed to recover previously waived fees if a litigant has obtained a judgment or substantial settlement.

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1. Applicant receiving public benefits under one or more of the following programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and State Supplementary Payment (SSP), California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Act

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(CalWORKs), federal Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF) grant program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the California Food Assistance Program, County Relief, General Relief (GR), or General Assistance (GA), Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Legal Immigrants (CAPI), In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), or Medi-Cal. 2. An applicant whose monthly income is 125 percent or less of the current poverty guidelines. 3. An applicant who, as individually determined by the court, cannot pay court fees without using moneys that normally would pay for the common necessaries of life for the applicant and the applicant's family.

Not provided for Not provided for Other Yes

Court can grant an initial fee waiver, require applicant to pay a portion of the fees, require applicant to pay court fees over a period of time, or grant some

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other equitable arrangement.

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California Cal. Gov. Code § 27712(a) Public Defender: Determination of ability to pay for costs of counsel at end of proceedings; Order for payment, and enforcement thereof

(a) In any case in which a party is provided legal assistance, either through the public defender or private counsel appointed by the court, upon conclusion of the proceedings, or

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upon the withdrawal of the public defender or private counsel, after a hearing on the matter, the court may make a determination of the ability of the party to pay all or a portion of the cost of such legal assistance. Such determination of ability to pay shall only be made after a hearing conducted according to the provisions of Section 987.8 of the Penal Code; except that, in any court where a county financial evaluation officer is available, the court shall order the party to appear before the county financial evaluation officer, who shall make an inquiry into the party’s ability to pay this cost as well as other court-related costs. The party shall have the right to dispute the county financial evaluation officer’s evaluation, in which case he or she shall be entitled to a hearing pursuant to Section 27752. If the party agrees with the county financial evaluation officer’s evaluation, the county financial evaluation officer shall petition the court for an order to that effect. The court may, in its discretion, hold one such additional hearing, or the county financial evaluation officer may hold one such additional evaluation, within six months of the conclusion of the criminal proceedings. If the court determines, or upon petition by the county financial evaluation officer is satisfied, that the party has the ability to pay all or part of the cost, it shall order the party to pay the sum to the county in any installments and manner which it believes reasonable and compatible with the party’s ability to pay. Execution may be issued on the order in the same manner as on a judgment in a civil action. The order shall not be enforced by contempt.The court, or in a county which has a county financial evaluation officer, the board of supervisors, shall adjudge a standard by which to measure the cost of legal assistance provided, which standard shall reflect the actual cost of legal services provided. Appointed counsel shall provide evidence of the services performed pursuant to such standard.

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NA

Not provided for Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Fee may be reduced

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 1202.5(a) Additional fine upon conviction of specified crimes; Disposition of proceeds

(a) In any case in which a defendant is convicted of any of the offenses enumerated in Section 211, 215, 459, 470, 484, 487, subdivision (a) of Section 487a, or

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Section 488, or 594, the court shall order the defendant to pay a fine of ten dollars ($10) in addition to any other penalty or fine imposed. If the court determines that the defendant has the ability to pay all or part of the fine, the court shall set the amount to be reimbursed and order the defendant to pay that sum to the county in the manner in which the court believes reasonable and compatible with the defendant’s financial ability. In making a determination of whether a defendant has the ability to pay, the court shall take into account the amount of any other fine imposed upon the defendant and any amount the defendant has been ordered to pay in restitution.

All

NA

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

Court my reduce fine

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 273.65(i) Violation of protective order relating to children

(i) For any order to pay a fine, make payments to a battered women’s shelter, or pay restitution as a condition of probation under subdivision (e), the court shall make a

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determination of the defendant’s ability to pay. In no event shall any order to make payments to a battered women’s shelter be made if it would impair the ability of the defendant to pay direct restitution to the victim or court-ordered child support.

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NA

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

In no event shall any order to make payments to a battered women’s shelter be made if it would impair the ability of the defendant to pay direct restitution to

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the victim or court-ordered child support.

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California Cal. Rules of Court 4.335(c) Ability to pay determinations for infraction offenses

(1) The court, on request of a defendant, must consider the defendant’s ability to pay.

(2) A defendant may request an ability-to-pay determination at adjudication, or while the judgment remains unpaid,

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including when a case is delinquent or has been referred to a comprehensive collection program.

3) The court must permit a defendant to make this request by written petition unless the court directs a court appearance. The request must include any information or documentation the defendant wishes the court to consider in connection with the determination. The judicial officer has the discretion to conduct the review on the written record or to order a hearing.

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

Community service; payment plan; waiver or reduction of costs

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 987.8(a)-(c) Determination of assets subject to attachment; Determination and order for payment of costs of counsel; Proceedings; Enforcement

(a) If the court finds that a defendant is entitled to counsel but is unable to employ counsel, the court may hold a hearing or, in its discretion, order the

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defendant to appear before a county officer designated by the court, to determine whether the defendant owns or has an interest in real property or other assets subject to attachment and not otherwise exempt by law. The court may impose a lien on any real property owned by the defendant, or in which the defendant has an interest to the extent permitted by law. The lien shall contain a legal description of the property, shall be recorded with the county recorder in the county or counties in which the property is located, and shall have priority over subsequently recorded liens or encumbrances. The county shall have the right to enforce its lien for the payment of providing legal assistance to an indigent defendant in the same manner as other lienholders by way of attachment, except that a county shall not enforce its lien on a defendant’s principal place of residence pursuant to a writ of execution. No lien shall be effective as against a bona fide purchaser without notice of the lien.

(b) If a defendant is provided legal assistance, either through the public defender or private counsel appointed by the court, upon conclusion of the criminal proceedings in the trial court or upon the withdrawal of the public defender or appointed private counsel, the court may, after notice and a hearing, make a determination of the present ability of the defendant to pay all or a portion of the cost thereof. The court may, in its discretion, hold one such additional hearing within six months of the conclusion of the criminal proceedings. The court may, in its discretion, order the defendant to appear before a county officer designated by the court to make an inquiry into the ability of the defendant to pay all or a portion of the legal assistance provided.

(c) (1) If the defendant hires counsel replacing a publicly provided attorney; in which the public defender or appointed counsel was required by the court to proceed with the case after a determination by the public defender that the defendant is not indigent; or, in which the defendant, at the conclusion of the case, appears to have sufficient assets to repay, without undue hardship, all or a portion of the cost of the legal assistance provided to him or her, by monthly installments or otherwise; the court shall make a determination of the defendant’s ability to pay as provided in subdivision (b), and may, in its discretion, make other orders as provided in that subdivision.

(2) This subdivision applies to a county only upon the adoption of a resolution by the board of supervisors to that effect.

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(2) “Ability to pay” means the overall capability of the defendant to reimburse the costs, or a portion of the costs, of the legal assistance provided to him or her,

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and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (A) The defendant's present financial position. (B) The defendant's reasonably discernible future financial position. In no event shall the court consider a period of more than six months from the date of the hearing for purposes of determining the defendant's reasonably discernible future financial position. Unless the court finds unusual circumstances, a defendant sentenced to state prison shall be determined not to have a reasonably discernible future financial ability to reimburse the costs of his or her defense. (C) The likelihood that the defendant shall be able to obtain employment within a six-month period from the date of the hearing. (D) Any other factor or factors which may bear upon the defendant's financial capability to reimburse the county for the costs of the legal assistance provided to the defendant.

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

NA