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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California Cal. Pen. Code § 1001.90(d) Diversion Restitution Fee: Imposition of fee; Amount

(d) In setting the amount of the diversion restitution fee in excess of the one hundred dollar ($100) minimum, the court shall consider any relevant factors, including, but not limited

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to, the defendant’s ability to pay, the seriousness and gravity of the offense and the circumstances of its commission, any economic gain derived by the defendant as a result of the crime, and the extent to which any other person suffered any losses as a result of the crime. Those losses may include pecuniary losses to the victim or his or her dependents as well as intangible losses, such as psychological harm caused by the crime. Consideration of a defendant’s ability to pay may include his or her future earning capacity. A defendant shall bear the burden of demonstrating the lack of his or her ability to pay. Express findings by the court as to the factors bearing on the amount of the fee shall not be required. A separate hearing for the diversion restitution fee shall not be required.

Misdemeanor, Felony

A consideration of the defendant's future earning potential.

At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing No

Fee may be set at a lower amount.

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 1203(j) Probation

(j) In any court where a county financial evaluation officer is available, in addition to referring the matter to the probation officer, the court may order the defendant to appear

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before the county financial evaluation officer for a financial evaluation of the defendant’s ability to pay restitution, in which case the county financial evaluation officer shall report his or her findings regarding restitution and other court-related costs to the probation officer on the question of the defendant’s ability to pay those costs.

Any order made pursuant to this subdivision may be enforced as a violation of the terms and conditions of probation upon willful failure to pay and at the discretion of the court, may be enforced in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action, if any balance remains unpaid at the end of the defendant’s probationary period.

Misdemeanor, Felony

Not provided for.

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

None

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 1203.41(d) Withdrawal of guilty or nolo contendere plea after completion of sentence; Notice to defendant; Limitations; Applicability; Costs

(d) A person who petitions for a change of plea or setting aside of a verdict under this section may be required to reimburse the court for the actual costs

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of services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the court not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150), and to reimburse the county for the actual costs of services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the county board of supervisors not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150), and to reimburse any city for the actual costs of services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the city council not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150). Ability to make this reimbursement shall be determined by the court using the standards set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 987.8 and shall not be a prerequisite to a person’s eligibility under this section. The court may order reimbursement in any case in which the petitioner appears to have the ability to pay, without undue hardship, all or any portion of the costs for services established pursuant to this subdivision.

Misdemeanor, Felony

Undue hardship.

At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing No

Reimbursment may not be ordered or may be reduced to a portion of the costs.

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California Cal Pen. Code § 1203.45(g) Sealing of minor’s misdemeanor record; Application of section; Reimbursement to county or city

(g) A person who is 26 years of age or older and petitions for an order sealing a record under this section may be required to reimburse the court for

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the actual cost of services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the court, not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150), and to reimburse the county for the actual cost of services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the county board of supervisors, not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150), and to reimburse any city for the actual cost of services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the city council, not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150). Ability to make this reimbursement shall be determined by the court using the standards set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 987.8 and shall not be a prerequisite to a person’s eligibility under this section. The court may order reimbursement in a case in which the petitioner appears to have the ability to pay, without undue hardship, all or any portion of the cost for services established pursuant to this subdivision.

Misdemeanor

Unde hardship

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

Reimbursment may not be ordered or may be reduced to a portion of the costs.

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 3010.8 Electronic Monitoring: Charging of costs

(a) The department may charge persons on parole for the costs of any form of supervision that utilizes continuous electronic monitoring devices that monitor the whereabouts of the person pursuant

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to this article. Inability to pay all or a portion of the costs of continuous electronic monitoring authorized by this article shall not preclude use of continuous electronic monitoring and eligibility for parole shall not be enhanced by reason of ability to pay.
(b) Any person released on parole pursuant to subdivision (a) may be required to pay for that monitoring upon a finding of the ability to pay those costs. However, the department shall waive any or all of that payment upon a finding of an inability to pay. The department shall consider any remaining amounts the person has been ordered to pay in fines, assessments and restitution fines, fees, and orders, and shall give priority to the payment of those items before requiring that the person pay for the continuous electronic monitoring.

Misdemeanor, Felony

Not provided for.

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

Waive all or part of the fee.

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 3000.07(b) GPS monitoring of parolee convicted of registerable sex offense; Costs

(b) Any inmate released on parole pursuant to this section shall be required to pay for the costs associated with the monitoring by a global positioning system. However, the Department

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of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall waive any or all of that payment upon a finding of an inability to pay. The department shall consider any remaining amounts the inmate has been ordered to pay in fines, assessments and restitution fines, fees, and orders, and shall give priority to the payment of those items before requiring that the inmate pay for the global positioning monitoring. No inmate shall be denied parole on the basis of his or her inability to pay for those monitoring costs.

Misdemeanor, Felony

Not provided for.

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

Waive all or part of the fee.

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 3006(a) Costs paid by sex offenders

(a) The Department of Corrections may require parolees participating in relapse prevention treatment programs or receiving medication treatments intended to prevent them from committing sex offenses to pay some or

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all of the costs associated with this treatment, subject to the person’s ability to pay.

Misdemeanor, Felony

Not provided for.

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

None

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 3004(c) Use of electronic monitoring or supervising devices; Costs; Waiver of costs

(c) Any inmate released on parole pursuant to this section shall be required to pay for the costs associated with the monitoring by a global positioning system. However, the Department

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of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall waive any or all of that payment upon a finding of an inability to pay. The department shall consider any remaining amounts the inmate has been ordered to pay in fines, assessments and restitution fines, fees, and orders, and shall give priority to the payment of those items before requiring that the inmate pay for the global positioning monitoring.

Misdemeanor, Felony

Not provided for.

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

Waive all or part of the fee.

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 1210.15 Electronic Monitoring: Charging of costs

(a) A chief probation officer may charge persons on probation for the costs of any form of supervision that utilizes continuous electronic monitoring devices that monitor the whereabouts of the

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person pursuant to this chapter, upon a finding of the ability to pay those costs. However, the department shall waive any or all of that payment upon a finding of an inability to pay. Inability to pay all or a portion of the costs of continuous electronic monitoring authorized by this chapter shall not preclude use of continuous electronic monitoring, and eligibility for probation shall not be enhanced by reason of ability to pay.

Misdemeanor, Felony

Not provided for.

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

Waive all or part of the fee.

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 1208.2(d)-(i) Fees for certain programs

(d) The correctional administrator, or his or her designee, shall not consider a person’s ability or inability to pay all or a portion of the program fee for the purposes

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of granting or denying a person’s participation in, or assigning a person to, any of the programs governed by this section.
(e) For purposes of this section, “ability to pay” means the overall capability of the person to reimburse the costs, or a portion of the costs, of providing supervision and shall include, but shall not be limited to, consideration of all of the following factors:
(1) Present financial position.
(2) Reasonably discernible future financial position. In no event shall the administrator, or his or her designee, consider a period of more than six months from the date of acceptance into the program for purposes of determining reasonably discernible future financial position.
(3) Likelihood that the person shall be able to obtain employment within the six-month period from the date of acceptance into the program.
(4) Any other factor that may bear upon the person’s financial capability to reimburse the county for the fees fixed pursuant to subdivision (b).
(f) The administrator, or his or her designee, may charge a person the fee set by the board of supervisors or any portion of the fee and may determine the method and frequency of payment. Any fee the administrator, or his or her designee, charges pursuant to this section shall not in any case be in excess of the fee set by the board of supervisors and shall be based on the person’s ability to pay. The administrator, or his or her designee, shall have the option to waive the fees for program supervision when deemed necessary, justified, or in the interests of justice. The fees charged for program supervision may be modified or waived at any time based on the changing financial position of the person. All fees paid by persons for program supervision shall be deposited into the general fund of the county.
(g) No person shall be denied consideration for, or be removed from, participation in any of the programs to which this section applies because of an inability to pay all or a portion of the program supervision fees. At any time during a person’s sentence, the person may request that the administrator, or his or her designee, modify or suspend the payment of fees on the grounds of a change in circumstances with regard to the person’s ability to pay.
(h) If the person and the administrator, or his or her designee, are unable to come to an agreement regarding the person’s ability to pay, or the amount that is to be paid, or the method and frequency with which payment is to be made, the administrator, or his or her designee, shall advise the appropriate court of the fact that the person and administrator, or his or her designee, have not been able to reach agreement and the court shall then resolve the disagreement by determining the person’s ability to pay, the amount that is to be paid, and the method and frequency with which payment is to be made.
(i) At the time a person is approved for any of the programs to which this section applies, the administrator, or his or her designee, shall furnish the person a written statement of the person’s rights in regard to the program for which the person has been approved, including, but not limited to, both of the following:
(1) The fact that the person cannot be denied consideration for or removed from participation in the program because of an inability to pay.
(2) The fact that if the person is unable to reach agreement with the administrator, or his or her designee, regarding the person’s ability to pay, the amount that is to be paid, or the manner and frequency with which payment is to be made, that the matter shall be referred to the court to resolve the differences.

Misdemeanor, Felony

Not provided for.

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

Modify or suspend the payment of fees; change the frequency in which fees are paid. 

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-355 Petition of defendant
(a) In determining whether the defendant is unable to pay such fine forthwith, the court may require such defendant to file a petition, under oath, with the court, upon a
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form provided by the court, setting forth the financial condition of the defendant. (b) Such form shall be a questionnaire, and shall include, but shall not be limited to: the name and residence of the defendant; his occupation, if any; his family status and the number of persons dependent upon him; his monthly income; whether or not his dependents are employed and, if so, their approximate monthly income; his banking accounts, if any; real estate owned by the defendant, or any interest he may have in real estate; income produced therefrom; any independent income accruing to the defendant; tangible and intangible personal property owned by the defendant, or in which he may have an interest; and a statement listing the approximate indebtedness of the defendant to other persons. Such form shall also include a payment plan of the defendant, if the court should exercise its discretion in permitting the payment of such fine and costs in installments or other conditions to be fixed by the court.
All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No

permitting the payment of such fine and costs in installments or other conditions to be fixed by the court

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-358(C) Show cause hearing on default
B. Following the order to show cause or following a capias issued for a defendant's failure to comply with a court order to appear issued pursuant to subsection A of
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§ 19.2-354, unless the defendant shows that his default was not attributable to an intentional refusal to obey the sentence of the court, or not attributable to a failure on his part to make a good faith effort to obtain the necessary funds for payment, or unless the defendant shows that any failure to appear was not attributable to an intentional refusal to obey the order of the court, the court may order the defendant confined as for a contempt for a term not to exceed sixty days or impose a fine not to exceed $500. The court may provide in its order that payment or satisfaction of the amounts in default at any time will entitle the defendant to his release from such confinement or, after entering the order, may at any time reduce the sentence for good cause shown, including payment or satisfaction of such amounts. C. If it appears that the default is excusable under the standards set forth in subsection B hereof, the court may enter an order allowing the defendant additional time for payment, reducing the amount due or of each installment, or remitting the unpaid portion 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 after hearing No

additional time for payment, reducing the amount due or of each installment, or remitting the unpaid portion in whole or in part

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-363 Authority of Governor to grant relief from fines and penalties in case of deceased defendant
provided, that when the party against whom the fine or penalty has been imposed and judgment rendered therefor has departed this life leaving a spouse or children surviving, the Governor
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may remit such fine or penalty upon the certificate of the judge of the circuit court of the county or city wherein such fine or penalty was imposed and judgment rendered, that to enforce the same against the estate, real or personal, of the decedent, would impose hardship upon the spouse or children
All

would impose hardship upon the spouse or children

At defendant's request at enforcement Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

remittance

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-299.2(C) Local alcohol safety action program - ability to pay
If the referral is to the local alcohol safety action program, the program may charge a fee for the education and intervention component, or both, not to exceed $300, based
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upon the defendant's ability to pay.
All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Not specified

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 53.1-150.1 Substance abuse treatment as condition of parole - exemptions
Any person who is granted parole and who is required to receive substance abuse treatment as a condition of parole shall contribute towards the cost of such treatment based upon
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his ability to pay, as established pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Board of Corrections. The regulations shall provide that (i) any fees collected for such treatment shall be paid directly to the service provider and (ii) any person may be exempt from the payment of such fees on the grounds of unreasonable hardship.
All

unreasonable hardship

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

exemption from payment of fees

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-57.3(D) Education/treatment program sliding scale fee structure
The court shall require the person entering such education or treatment program or services under the provisions of this section to pay all or part of the costs of the
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program or services, including the costs of any assessment, evaluation, testing, education and treatment, based upon the person's ability to pay. Such programs or services shall offer a sliding-scale fee structure or other mechanism to assist participants who are unable to pay the full costs of the required programs or services.
All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes

sliding scale fee structure

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-251 Program costs - ability to pay
The court shall require the person entering such program under the provisions of this section to pay all or part of the costs of the program, including the costs of
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the screening, assessment, testing, and treatment, based upon the accused's ability to pay unless the person is determined by the court to be indigent.
All

Indigence

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Other Yes

exemption from payment of fees

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-251.01(A) Education fee - based upon ability to pay
The services agency or program may require the person entering such program or services under the provisions of this section to pay a fee for the education and treatment component,
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or both, based upon the defendant's ability to pay.
Felony Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Not specified

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-258.1(H) Program costs - indigency
The court shall require the person entering such program under the provisions of this section to pay all or part of the costs of the program, including the costs of
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the screening, evaluation, testing and education, based upon the person's ability to pay unless the person is determined by the court to be indigent.
All

Indigence

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Other Yes

exemption from payment of fees

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Virginia Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-271.1(B) Waiver of fee - indigency Upon a positive finding that the defendant is indigent, the court may reduce or waive the fee. All

Indigence

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

waiver of fee