Ability to Pay

Keyword search across all of the laws in the states. Subject-area tabs above allow you to narrow results. Click the advanced search for further refinement.

Every law can be saved to the Reform Builder  

See all ability to pay policy recommendations in CJPP’s Policy Guide

Below are the ability to pay laws that meet your search criteria. Many include a See related provisions prompt which searches our database for laws that may pertain to your result.

23 Results

Export results to Excel

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
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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
+ See more
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.

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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

+ See more
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

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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

+ See more
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

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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

+ See more
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.

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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
+ See more
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.
All

"manifest hardship"

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No Not provided for
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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
+ See more
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

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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
+ See more
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

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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
+ See more
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.
All

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

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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
+ See more
its payment will impose.
All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes Not provided for
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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
+ See more
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

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Nevada Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 176.085   Reduction of excessive fine or administrative assessment; payment in installments.
Whenever, after a fine and administrative assessment have been imposed but before they have been discharged by payment or confinement, it is made to appear to the judge or justice
+ See more
imposing the fine or administrative assessment or his or her successor: 1.  That the fine or administrative assessment is excessive in relation to the financial resources of the defendant, the judge or justice or his or her successor may reduce the fine accordingly. 2.  That the discharge of the fine or administrative assessment is not within the defendant’s present financial ability to pay, the judge or justice or his or her successor may direct that the fine be paid in installments.
All

excessive in relation to the financial resources of the defendant; not withiin the defendant's present financial ability to pay

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

Installment plan

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Nevada Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 209.4295 (2)-(3) Payment of cost of supervision and treatment; performance of community service as contribution toward cost; issuance of judgment for unpaid costs
2.  A court shall not refuse to place a probation violator in the diversion program if the probation violator does not have the financial resources to pay any or all of
+ See more
the related costs. 3.  The court may order a probation violator who is placed in the diversion program to perform a specified amount of community service upon release from the program to contribute toward the cost of his or her treatment and supervision. Any such community service must be performed for and under the supervising authority of a county, city, town or other political subdivision or agency of the State of Nevada or a charitable organization that renders service to the community or its residents.
All

violator does not have the financial resources to pay any or all of the related costs

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

community service

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Nevada Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 211A.130 (3) Fees for cost of supervision: Imposition; waiver or reduction
3.  If the chief determines that payment of the fee would result in economic hardship to a probationer or a supervised releasee, the chief may waive the imposition of, or reduce
+ See more
the amount of, the fee. If the chief waives the imposition of the fee, payment of the fee by the probationer or the supervised releasee does not constitute a condition of his or her suspended sentence, residential confinement or pretrial or presentence release.
All

economic hardship

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

reduction or waiver of fee

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Nevada Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 213.1076 (2) Fee to defray costs of supervision; regulations; waiver
2.  The Chief may waive the fee to defray the cost of supervision, in whole or in part, if the Chief determines that payment of the fee would create an economic
+ See more
hardship on the parolee, probationer or person supervised by the Division through residential confinement.
All

economic hardship

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

reduction or waiver of fee

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Nevada Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 209.4886 (4) Participation in judicial program: Referral of offender to reentry court; powers and duties of Director; regulations; reimbursement of costs; effect of violation of terms and conditions; status of offender
The Director shall adopt regulations requiring offenders who are assigned to the custody of the Division pursuant to this section to reimburse the reentry court, the Division and the Department
+ See more
for the cost of their participation in a judicial program, to the extent of their ability to pay.
All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes Not provided for
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Nevada Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 176.139 (7) Presentence investigation and report: Psychosexual evaluation of certain sex offenders required; standards and methods for conducting evaluation; access to records; rights of confidentiality and privileges deemed waived; costs
If a psychosexual evaluation is conducted pursuant to this section, the court shall: (a) Order the defendant, to the extent of the defendant’s financial ability, to
+ See more
pay for the cost of the psychosexual evaluation; or (b) If the defendant was less than 18 years of age when the sexual offense was committed and the defendant was certified and convicted as an adult, order the parents or guardians of the defendant, to the extent of their financial ability, to pay for the cost of the psychosexual evaluation. For the purposes of this paragraph, the court has jurisdiction over the parents or guardians of the defendant to the extent that is necessary to carry out the provisions of this paragraph.
All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes Not provided for
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Vermont Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13 § 5238(f) Co-payment and reimbursement orders

A person who may be or has been ordered to pay all or part of the cost of representation by co-payment or reimbursement order may at any time petition the

+ See more
court making the order for remission of all of the amount or any part thereof. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that payment of the amount due will impose manifest hardships on the defendant or the defendant's immediate family or that the circumstances of case disposition and the interests of justice so require, the court may remit all or part of the amount due or modify the method of payment.

All

Payment of the amount due will impose manifest hardships on the defendant or the defendant's immediate family or that the circumstances of case disposition and the interests of justice so

+ See more
require.

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

Court will remit all or part of the amount due or modify the method of payment.

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Vermont Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13 § 7180(c)(3),(4)(C) Remedies for failure to pay fines, costs, surcharges, and penalties

(c) Civil contempt proceeding. (3) Hearing. --  The hearing shall be conducted in a summary manner. The court shall examine the defendant and any other witnesses and may require the defendant

+ See more
to produce documents relevant to the defendant's ability to pay the amount due. Evidence is admissible if it is of a type commonly relied upon by a reasonably prudent person in the conduct of his or her affairs. The Vermont Rules of Evidence shall not apply except that the rules related to privilege shall apply. The State shall not be a party except with the permission of the court. The defendant may be represented by counsel at the defendant's own expense.

(4)(C)  If the court concludes that the defendant is not in contempt because the defendant does not have the ability to pay the amount due, the court may: (i)  suspend all or any part of the amount due in the interests of justice, except that the court may not waive surcharges imposed pursuant to section 7282 of this title; (ii)  order the defendant to participate in the Restorative Justice Program conducted by a community reparative board and direct the reparative board to determine an appropriate amount of community service to be performed in lieu of all or part of the amount due.

All

Not provided for

At enforcement of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Suspend all or any part of the amount due in the interests of justice, except that the court may not waive surcharges imposed pursuant to section 7282 of this title;

+ See more
order the defendant to participate in the Restorative Justice Program conducted by a community reparative board and direct the reparative board to determine an appropriate amount of community service to be performed in lieu of all or part of the amount due.

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Vermont Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13 § 7043(d)(2),(e)(1) Restitution

(d) In awarding restitution, the Court shall make findings with respect to: . . . (2) The offender's current ability to pay restitution, based on all financial information available to

+ See more
the Court, including information provided by the offender.

(e)(1) An order of restitution shall establish the amount of the material loss incurred by the victim, which shall be the restitution judgment order. In the event the offender is unable to pay the restitution judgment order at the time of sentencing, the court shall establish a restitution payment schedule for the offender based upon the offender's current and reasonably foreseeable ability to pay, subject to modification under subsection (l) of this section. 

All

Not provided for

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

Payment plan

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Vermont Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13 § 5238(b) Co-payment and reimbursement orders

(b)  The court shall require any person assigned counsel pursuant to section 5236 of this title to pay for all or part of the cost of representation based upon his or

+ See more
her ability to pay. Unless the person and cohabiting family members are found to be financially unable to pay, in all cases the court shall order a minimum payment of $ 50.00.

(f)  A person who may be or has been ordered to pay all or part of the cost of representation by co-payment or reimbursement order may at any time petition the court making the order for remission of all of the amount or any part thereof. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that payment of the amount due will impose manifest hardships on the defendant or the defendant's immediate family or that the circumstances of case disposition and the interests of justice so require, the court may remit all or part of the amount due or modify the method of payment.

All

Manifest hardships on the defendant or the defendant's immediate family or that the circumstances of case disposition and the interests of justice so require

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

Not having to pay the cost or minimum fee for representation; court may remit all or part of the amount due or modify the method of payment.