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.

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"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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Kansas Kan. Stat. Ann. ? 22-4529 Entitlement of defendant to counsel; application fee; disposition of moneys
Any defendant entitled to counsel pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. ? 22-4503, and amendments thereto, shall pay an application fee in the amount of $100 to the clerk of the
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district court. Any defendant entitled to counsel in a proceeding for a violation of a condition of release pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. ? 22-3716, and amendments thereto, shall pay an application fee of $100 to the clerk of the district court. Such fee shall be paid regardless of whether the defendant has paid application fees pursuant to this section in any other proceeding. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that payment of the application fee will impose manifest hardship on the defendant, the court may waive payment of all or part of the application fee. All moneys received pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of Kan. Stat. Ann. ? 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the indigents' defense services fund. If the defendant is acquitted or the case is dismissed, any application fee paid pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the defendant.
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"manifest hardship"

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No Not provided for
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Kansas Kan. Stat. Ann. ? 60-2001(b) Docket fee; authorized only by legislative enactment; poverty affidavit, court review; additional costs; certain sheriff's charges prohibited
(b)?Poverty affidavit in lieu of docket fee. (1) Effect. In any case where a plaintiff by reason of poverty is unable to pay a docket fee, and an affidavit so
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stating is filed, no fee will be required. An inmate in the custody of the secretary of corrections may file a poverty affidavit only if the inmate attaches a statement disclosing the average account balance, or the total deposits, whichever is less, in the inmate's trust fund for each month in: (A) The six-month period preceding the filing of the action; or (B) the current period of incarceration, whichever is shorter. Such statement shall be certified by the secretary. On receipt of the affidavit and attached statement, the court shall determine the initial fee to be assessed for filing the action and in no event shall the court require an inmate to pay less than $3. The secretary of corrections is hereby authorized to disburse money from the inmate's account to pay the costs as determined by the court. If the inmate has a zero balance in such inmate's account, the secretary shall debit such account in the amount of $3 per filing fee as established by the court until money is credited to the account to pay such docket fee. Any initial filing fees assessed pursuant to this subsection shall not prevent the court, pursuant to subsection (d), from taxing that individual for the remainder of the amount required under subsection (a) or this subsection.(2)?Form of affidavit. The affidavit provided for in this subsection shall set forth a factual basis upon which the plaintiff alleges by reason of poverty an inability to pay a docket fee, including, but not limited to, the source and amount of the plaintiff's weekly income. Such affidavit shall be signed and sworn to by the plaintiff under oath, before one who has authority to administer the oath, under penalty of perjury, Kan. Stat. Ann. ? 2015 Supp. 21-5903, and amendments thereto. The form of the affidavit shall be deemed sufficient if in substantial compliance with the form set forth by the judicial council. (3)?Court review; grounds for dismissal; service of process. The court shall review any petition authorized for filing under this subsection. Upon such review, if the court finds that the plaintiff's allegation of poverty is untrue, the court shall direct the plaintiff to pay the docket fee or dismiss the petition without prejudice. Notwithstanding Kan. Stat. Ann. ? 60-301, and amendments thereto, service of process shall not issue unless the court grants leave following its review.
All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes

lower f ee

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Kansas Kan. Stat. Ann. ? 8-1567 Driving a commercial motor vehicle under the influence; penalties
In lieu of payment of a fine imposed pursuant to this section, the court may order that the person perform community service specified by the court. The person shall receive
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a credit on the fine imposed in an amount equal to $5 for each full hour spent by the person in the specified community service. The community service ordered by the court shall be required to be performed not later than one year after the fine is imposed or by an earlier date specified by the court. If by the required date the person performs an insufficient amount of community service to reduce to zero the portion of the fine required to be paid by the person, the remaining balance of the fine shall become due on that date.
Misdemeanor, Felony Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No

Community service

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Kansas Kan. Stat. Ann. ? 21-6604(d) Authorized dispositions; crimes committed on or after July 1, 1993
(d) In addition to any of the above, the court shall order the defendant to reimburse the county general fund for all or a part of the expenditures by the
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county to provide counsel and other defense services to the defendant. Any such reimbursement to the county shall be paid only after any order for restitution has been paid in full. In determining the amount and method of payment of such sum, the court shall take account of the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that payment of such sum will impose. A defendant who has been required to pay such sum and who is not willfully in default in the payment thereof may at any time petition the court which sentenced the defendant to waive payment of such sum or 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 defendant's immediate family, the court may waive payment of all or part of the amount due or modify the method of payment.
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payment of the amount due will impose manifest hardship on the defendant or the defendant's immediate family

At defendant's request before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge after hearing Yes

the court may waive payment of all or part of the amount due or modify the method of payment

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Kansas Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-6612(c) Criteria for imposing fines
In determining the amount and method of payment of a fine, the court shall take into account the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that
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its payment will impose.
All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes Not provided for
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Kansas Kan. Stat. Ann. § 22-3425(2) Commitment for failure to pay fine and costs
Any person confined in the county jail for failure to pay a fine or costs may be released by the court which imposed sentence, upon satisfactory proof that such person
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is unable to pay such fine and costs. A release under this section shall not discharge a person from his liability to pay the fine and costs adjudged against him, but they may thereafter be collected by execution as on judgments in civil cases.
All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No

converts to civil judgment

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Pennsylvania Pa. R. Crim. P. 706 Fines or Costs
(A) A court shall not commit the defendant to prison for failure to pay a fine or costs unless it appears after hearing that the defendant is financially able
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to pay the fine or costs. (B) When the court determines, after hearing, that the defendant is without the financial means to pay the fine or costs immediately or in a single remittance, the court may provide for payment of the fines or costs in such installments and over such period of time as it deems to be just and practicable, taking into account the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden its payments will impose, as set forth in paragraph (D) below. (C) The court, in determining the amount and method of payment of a fine or costs shall, insofar as is just and practicable, consider the burden upon the defendant by reason of the defendant’s financial means, including the defendant’s ability to make restitution or reparations. (D) In cases in which the court has ordered payment of a fine or costs in installments, the defendant may request a rehearing on the payment schedule when the defendant is in default of a payment or when the defendant advises the court that such default is imminent. At such hearing, the burden shall be on the defendant to prove that his or her financial condition has deteriorated to the extent that the defendant is without the means to meet the payment schedule. Thereupon the court may extend or accelerate the payment schedule or leave it unaltered, as the court finds to be just and practicable under the circumstances of record. When there has been default and the court finds the defendant is not indigent, the court may impose imprisonment as provided by law for nonpayment.
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financial means to pay, taking account of financial resources and nature of burden

Not provided for Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Not provided for Yes

Installment Plans