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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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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Delaware 10 Del. C. §8603(a) Nonpayment of Costs

When a defendant who is required to pay the costs of defense defaults in the payment thereof or of any installment, the court on motion of the Attorney General or

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upon its own motion may require the defendant to show cause why the default should not be treated as contempt of court, and may issue a rule or order to show cause why such default should not be treated as contempt of court, and may take such further actions as the court determines to produce the defendant before the court.

All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge without hearing No

Additional Time for Payment; Reducing Payment or Installment Amount; Revoking Payment in Whole or Unpaid Part.

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Delaware 10 Del. C. §8603(d) Nonpayment of Costs

If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the default in the payment of defense costs is not contempt, the court may enter an order allowing the defendant

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additional time for payment, reducing the amount thereof or of each installment, or revoking such payment or the unpaid portion thereof in whole or in part.

All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge without hearing No

Additional Time for Payment; Reducing Payment or Installment Amount; Revoking Payment in Whole or Unpaid Part.

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Delaware 10 Del. C. §8601(d) Recoupment of Costs

A defendant who has been required to pay the costs of defense and who is not in contumacious default in the payment thereof may at any time petition the court

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for remission of the payment of such costs, or of any unpaid portion thereof. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that payment of the amount due will impose manifest hardship on the defendant or immediate family, the court may remit all or part of the amount due in costs, or modify the method of payment.

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"Will impose manifest hardship on the defendant or immediate family."

At defendant's request at enforcement Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge without hearing No

Remission of All or Part of Fee.

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Delaware 10 Del. C. § 8601(c) Recoupment of Costs

The court shall not require a defendant to pay the costs of defense unless the defendant is, or will be, able to pay them. In determining the amount and method

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of payment of such costs, the court shall take account of the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that payment of costs will impose.

All

"The court shall take account of the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that payment of costs will impose."

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

Defendant Not Required to Pay.

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Maryland Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 7-201(b) Waiver of Fees for Indigent Petitioners
The circuit court shall pass an order waiving the payment in advance if: (1) Upon petition for waiver, it is satisfied that the petitioner is unable by reason of his
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poverty to make the payment; and (2) The petitioner's attorney, if any, certifies that the suit, appeal, or writ is meritorious.
All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

Waiver of fee

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Maryland Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 7-405 Waiver of Criminal Court Costs
The District Court or a circuit court in a criminal case may not waive any court costs imposed under § 7-409 of this subtitle unless the defendant establishes indigency as
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provided in the Maryland Rules.
All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

Waiver of fee

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Maryland Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 7-504(c)(2) Ability to Pay Fine
(a) A defendant who is unable to pay a fine ordered by a court may apply to the court for a reduction of the fine. (b) If a defendant
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fails or is unable to pay a fine as ordered by a court, the court may investigate the reasons for the failure or inability to pay the fine, including the defendant's financial and family situation and whether nonpayment of the fine is contumacious or is due to indigence. (c) After an investigation that a court considers necessary as to the reasons for the failure or inability to pay a fine, the court: (1) May order that the individual be committed to a correctional facility; (2) May reduce the fine to an amount that the court determines the defendant is able to pay; or (3) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, may direct that the individual be imprisoned until payment of: (i) The fine; or(ii) Part of the fine that is undischarged after a pro rata credit for time served instead of payment.
All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

Commitment; Reduction of Fee; Incarceration until payment based upon a per diem rate

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North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-32-05(1) Imposition of fine--Response to nonpayment
1. The court, in making a determination of the propriety of imposing a sentence to pay a fine, shall consider the following factors:a. The ability of the defendant to pay
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without undue hardship. b. Whether the defendant, other than a defendant organization, gained money or property as a result of commission. c. Whether the sentence to pay a fine will interfere with the defendant's capacity to make restitution. d. Whether a sentence to pay a fine will serve a valid rehabilitative purpose.
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ability of the defendant to pay without undue hardship

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

fine not imposed

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North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-32-08(1) Hearing prior to ordering restitution, reparation, or reimbursement of indigent defense costs and expenses--Conditions--Collection of restitution for insufficient funds checks--Continuing appropriation
Before imposing restitution or reparation as a sentence or condition of probation, the court shall hold a hearing on the matter with notice to the prosecuting attorney and to the
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defendant as to the nature and amount of restitution. The court, when sentencing a person adjudged guilty of criminal activities that have resulted in pecuniary damages, in addition to any other sentence the court may impose, shall order that the defendant make restitution to the victim or other recipient as determined by the court, unless the court states on the record, based upon the criteria in this subsection, the reason it does not order restitution or orders only partial restitution. Restitution must include payment to the owner of real property that is contaminated by the defendant in the manufacturing of methamphetamine for the cost of removing the contamination and returning the property to the property's condition before contamination and to any other person that has incurred costs in decontaminating the property. In determining whether to order restitution, the court shall take into account: a. The reasonable damages sustained by the victim or victims of the criminal offense, which damages are limited to those directly related to the criminal offense and expenses actually incurred as a direct result of the defendant's criminal action. This can include an amount equal to the cost of necessary and related professional services and devices relating to physical, psychiatric, and psychological care. The defendant may be required as part of the sentence imposed by the court to pay the prescribed treatment costs for a victim of a sexual offense as defined in chapters 12.1-20 and 12.1-27.2. b. The ability of the defendant to restore the fruits of the criminal action or to pay monetary reparations, or to otherwise take action to restore the victim's property. c. The likelihood that attaching a condition relating to restitution or reparation will serve a valid rehabilitational purpose in the case of the particular offender considered.The court shall fix the amount of restitution or reparation, which may not exceed an amount the defendant can or will be able to pay, and shall fix the manner of performance of any condition or conditions of probation established pursuant to this subsection. The court shall order restitution be paid to the division of adult services for any benefits the division has paid or may pay under chapter 54-23.4 unless the court, on the record, directs otherwise. Any payments made pursuant to the order must be deducted from damages awarded in a civil action arising from the same incident. An order that a defendant make restitution or reparation as a sentence or condition of probation may, unless the court directs otherwise, be filed, transcribed, and enforced by the person entitled to the restitution or reparation or by the division of adult services in the same manner as civil judgments rendered by the courts of this state may be enforced.
All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes Not provided for
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North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-32-08(5) Hearing prior to ordering restitution, reparation, or reimbursement of indigent defense costs and expenses--Conditions--Collection of restitution for insufficient funds checks--Continuing appropriation
If the court finds that the defendant is unable to pay a fine, supervision fee, reimbursement for indigent defense costs and expenses, or restitution or reparations, the court may order
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the defendant to perform reasonable assigned work in lieu of all or part of a fine, a supervision fee, reimbursement for indigent defense costs and expenses, or restitution or reparations. The defendant may not perform reasonable assigned work in lieu of restitution or reparations unless the person entitled to restitution or reparations has consented in writing or on the record.
All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes

reasonable assigned work in lieu of all or part of paynment

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North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 29-26-22.2 Authority to compromise judgment by county commissioners
The board of county commissioners has authority to compromise and settle any judgment for fines or costs payable to the county treasury after a lapse of two years from the
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filing thereof, if in the opinion of said board said judgment cannot be collected in full. Upon receipt of a certified copy of the board's action, the state's attorney of said county shall in accordance therewith make and file a partial or total satisfaction of said judgment as attorney for the county.
All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Administrative decision No Not provided for
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North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 29-26-22(4) Judgment for fines--Court administration fee--Community service supervision fee--Special funds--Docketing and enforcement
A court may waive the administration fee or community service supervision fee upon a showing of indigency as provided in section 25-03.1-13. District court administration fees, exclusive of amounts deposited
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in the indigent defense administration fund and the court facilities and improvement fund, and forfeitures must be deposited in the state general fund. A judgment that the defendant pay a fine or fees, or both, may be docketed and if docketed constitutes a lien upon the real estate of the defendant in like manner as a judgment for money rendered in a civil action. The court may allow the defendant to pay any assessed administration fee or community service supervision fee in installments. When a defendant is assessed administration fees or a community service supervision fee, the court may not impose at the same time an alternative sentence to be served if the fees are not paid.
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The statute refers to N.D. Cent. Code § 25-03.1-13(4), which contains a general provision about indigency: "If the court determines that the respondent is indigent, the court shall order that

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appointed counsel be compensated from county funds of the county that is the respondent's place of residence in a reasonable amount based upon time and expenses. After notice and hearing, the court may order a respondent with appointed counsel to reimburse the county for expenditures made on the respondent's behalf."

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

Court may waive the administration fee or community service supervision fee.

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North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-32-08(1) Hearing prior to ordering restitution, reparation, or reimbursement of indigent defense costs and expenses--Conditions--Collection of restitution for insufficient funds checks--Continuing appropriation
In determining whether to order restitution, the court shall take into account: . . . The ability of the defendant to restore the fruits of the criminal action or to
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pay monetary reparations, or to otherwise take action to restore the victim's property. . . . The court shall fix the amount of restitution or reparation, which may not exceed an amount the defendant can or will be able to pay, and shall fix the manner of performance of any condition or conditions of probation established pursuant to this subsection.
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ability of defendant to pay monetary reparations

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

amount of restitution shall not exceed ability to pay

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North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 27-01-10(3) Fee assessments for funding crime victim and witness programs
The district or municipal judge may assess the fee when sentence is imposed or when sentence is suspended or imposition of sentence is deferred, unless the defendant is indigent and
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unable to pay the fee.
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indigent and unable to pay the fee

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

fee is not assessed

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North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 29-07-1.1 Payment of expenses for defense of indigents--Reimbursement of indigent defense costs and expenses--Indigent defense administration fund--Continuing appropriation
For an application for indigent defense services in the district court, a nonrefundable application fee of thirty-five dollars must be paid at the time the application is submitted. The district
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court may extend the time for payment of the fee or may waive or reduce the fee if the court determines the defendant is financially unable to pay all or part of the fee.
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financially unable to pay all or part of the fee

At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes

extend time for payment; reduce fee