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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Georgia Ga. Code. Ann. § 15-21-10 Procedure for Filing and Payment of Claims of Officers of Court When Indictment Found Not True, Defendant Acquitted, or Persons Unable to Pay

In cases where a bill of indictment is preferred and not found true by the grand jury, where a defendant is acquitted by a jury, or where persons liable by

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law for the payment of costs are unable to pay the same, the officers severally entitled to such costs may present an account therefor to the judge of the court in which the prosecutions were pending, which, after being examined and allowed by him, he shall order to be paid in the manner prescribed by law. The account and order shall be entered on the minutes of the court.

All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

"The officers severally entitled to such costs may present an account therefor to the judge of the court in which the prosecutions were pending, which, after being examined and allowed

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by him, he shall order to be paid in the manner prescribed by law."

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Georgia Ga. Code Ann. § 17-10-1(d) Fixing of Sentence; Suspension or Probation of Sentence; Change in Sentence; Eligibility for Parole; Prohibited Modifications; Exceptions

(1) As used in this subsection, the term: (A)  "Developmental disability" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 37-1-1. (B)  "Indigent" means an individual who earns less than 100

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percent of the federal poverty guidelines unless there is evidence that the individual has other resources that might reasonably be used without undue hardship for such individual or his or her dependents. (C)  "Significant financial hardship" means a reasonable probability that an individual will be unable to satisfy his or her financial obligations for two or more consecutive months. (D)  "Totally and permanently disabled" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 49-4-80;  (2)  In determining the financial obligations, other than restitution, to impose on the defendant, the court shall consider: (A)  The defendant's financial resources and other assets, including whether any such assets are jointly controlled; (B)  The defendant's earnings and other income; (C)  The defendant's financial obligations, including obligations to dependents; (D)  The period of time during which the probation order will be in effect; (E)  The goal of the punishment being imposed; and (F)  Any other factor the court deems appropriate;  (3)  In any case involving a violation of local ordinance, misdemeanor, or felony in which the defendant has been punished in whole or in part by a fine, the court shall be authorized to allow the defendant to satisfy such fine or any fee imposed in connection with probation supervision through community service as set forth in Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 42. One hour of community service shall equal the dollar amount of one hour of paid labor at the minimum wage under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, in effect on January 1, 2018, unless otherwise specified by the court. A defendant shall be required to serve the number of hours in community service which equals the number derived by dividing the amount owed by the defendant, including moneys assessed by a provider of probation services, by the federal minimum hourly wage or by the amount specified by the court. If the court orders educational advancement, the court shall determine the numbers of hours required to be completed. Prior to or subsequent to sentencing, a defendant, or subsequent to sentencing, a community supervision officer, may request that the court make all or any portion of the amount owed by the defendant be satisfied under this subsection;  (4)  At the time of sentencing, the court may waive the imposition of a fine, exclusive of the payment of statutory surcharges, upon a determination that a defendant has a significant financial hardship or inability to pay or other extenuating factors exist that prohibit payment or collection of such fine. When determining significant financial hardship, the court may consider whether the defendant is indigent and whether the defendant or his or her dependents has a developmental disability or is totally and permanently disabled. If the court waives the imposition of a fine under this paragraph, it shall instead impose a theoretical fine and the defendant shall be required to pay the statutory surcharges associated therewith.

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"'Indigent' means an individual who earns less than 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines unless there is evidence that the individual has other resources that might reasonably be used without

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undue hardship for such individual or his or her dependents. 'Significant financial hardship' means a reasonable probability that an individual will be unable to satisfy his or her financial obligations for two or more consecutive months."

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No Not provided for
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Georgia Ga. Code Ann. § 15-21A-6(a);(c) Additional Filing Fees; Application Fee For Indigent Defense Services; Remittance of Funds

(a)  In addition to all other legal costs, there shall be charged to the filing party and collected by the clerk an additional filing fee of $15.00 in each civil action

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or case filed in the superior, state, recorder's, mayor's, and magistrate courts except that municipalities, counties, and political subdivisions shall be exempt from such fee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such fee shall apply to all adoptions, certiorari, trade name registrations, applications for change of name, and all other proceedings of a civil nature. Any matter which is docketed upon the official dockets of the enumerated courts and to which a number is assigned shall be subject to such fee, whether such matter is contested or not;  (c)  Any person who applies for or receives legal defense services under Chapter 12 of Title 17 shall pay the entity providing such services a single fee of $50.00 for the application for, receipt of, or application for and receipt of such services. The application fee shall not be imposed if the payment of the fee is waived by the court. The court shall waive the fee if it finds that the applicant is unable to pay the fee or that measurable hardship will result if the fee is charged. If the application fee required by this subsection has not been paid prior to the time the defendant is sentenced, the court shall impose such fee as a condition of probation.

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"Unable to pay the fee or that measurable hardship will result if the fee is charged."

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

"The application fee shall not be imposed if the payment of the fee is waived by the court."

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Georgia Ga. Code Ann. § 42-8-34(e)(1) Sentencing Hearings and Determinations; Presentence Investigations; Payment of Fees, Fines, and Costs; Post-Conviction, Presentence Bond; Continuing Jurisdiction; Transferal of Probation Supervision

The court may, in its discretion, require the payment of a fine, fees, or restitution as a condition of probation. Chapter 14 of Title 17 shall control when determining the

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amount of restitution. When probation supervision is required, the court may require the payment of a probation supervision fee as a condition of probation. In determining the financial obligations, other than restitution, to impose on the defendant, the court may consider: (A)  The defendant's financial resources and other assets, including whether any such asset is jointly controlled; (B)  The defendant's earnings and other income; (C)  The defendant's financial obligations, including obligations to dependents; (D)  The period of time during which the probation order will be in effect; (E)  The goal of the punishment being imposed; and (F)  Any other factor the court deems appropriate.

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"The court may consider: (A)  The defendant's financial resources and other assets, including whether any such asset is jointly controlled; (B)  The defendant's earnings and other income; (C)  The defendant's financial obligations, including

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obligations to dependents; (D)  The period of time during which the probation order will be in effect; (E)  The goal of the punishment being imposed; and (F)  Any other factor the court deems appropriate."

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No Not provided for
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Georgia Ga. Code. Ann. § 17-10-1(d) Fixing of Sentence; Suspension or Probation of Sentence; Change in Sentence; Eligibility for Parole; Prohibited Modifications; Exceptions

(1)  As used in this subsection, the term: (A)  "Developmental disability" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 37-1-1. (B)  "Indigent" means an individual who earns less than 100

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percent of the federal poverty guidelines unless there is evidence that the individual has other resources that might reasonably be used without undue hardship for such individual or his or her dependents. (C)  "Significant financial hardship" means a reasonable probability that an individual will be unable to satisfy his or her financial obligations for two or more consecutive months. (D)  "Totally and permanently disabled" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 49-4-80.  (2)  In determining the financial obligations, other than restitution, to impose on the defendant, the court shall consider: (A)  The defendant's financial resources and other assets, including whether any such assets are jointly controlled; (B)  The defendant's earnings and other income; (C)  The defendant's financial obligations, including obligations to dependents; (D)  The period of time during which the probation order will be in effect; (E)  The goal of the punishment being imposed; and (F)  Any other factor the court deems appropriate;  (3)  In any case involving a violation of local ordinance, misdemeanor, or felony in which the defendant has been punished in whole or in part by a fine, the court shall be authorized to allow the defendant to satisfy such fine or any fee imposed in connection with probation supervision through community service as set forth in Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 42. One hour of community service shall equal the dollar amount of one hour of paid labor at the minimum wage under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, in effect on January 1, 2018, unless otherwise specified by the court. A defendant shall be required to serve the number of hours in community service which equals the number derived by dividing the amount owed by the defendant, including moneys assessed by a provider of probation services, by the federal minimum hourly wage or by the amount specified by the court. If the court orders educational advancement, the court shall determine the numbers of hours required to be completed. Prior to or subsequent to sentencing, a defendant, or subsequent to sentencing, a community supervision officer, may request that the court make all or any portion of the amount owed by the defendant be satisfied under this subsection;  (4)  At the time of sentencing, the court may waive the imposition of a fine, exclusive of the payment of statutory surcharges, upon a determination that a defendant has a significant financial hardship or inability to pay or other extenuating factors exist that prohibit payment or collection of such fine. When determining significant financial hardship, the court may consider whether the defendant is indigent and whether the defendant or his or her dependents has a developmental disability or is totally and permanently disabled. If the court waives the imposition of a fine under this paragraph, it shall instead impose a theoretical fine and the defendant shall be required to pay the statutory surcharges associated therewith.

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"'Indigent' means an individual who earns less than 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines unless there is evidence that the individual has other resources that might reasonably be used without

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undue hardship for such individual or his or her dependents.  'Significant financial hardship' means a reasonable probability that an individual will be unable to satisfy his or her financial obligations for two or more consecutive months."

Not provided for Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No Not provided for
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Georgia Ga. Code Ann. § 42-8-105(f) Probationer Obligation to Keep Officer Informed of Certain Information; Tolling for Failure to Meet Certain Obligations; Procedure

Any unpaid fines, restitution, or other moneys owed as a condition of probation shall be due when the probationer is arrested; provided, however, that if the entire balance of his

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or her probation is revoked, all the conditions of probation, including moneys owed, shall be negated by his or her imprisonment. If only part of the balance of the probation is revoked, the court shall determine the probationer's responsibility for the amount of the unpaid fines, restitution, and other moneys owed that shall be imposed upon his or her return to probation after release from imprisonment and may reduce arrearages under the same circumstances and conditions as set forth in subsection (f) of Code Section 42-8-102.

All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes Not provided for
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Georgia Ga. Code Ann. § 17-14-15(b) Peonage Not Authorized by Article; Denial of Benefits Because of Poverty Prohibited

No offender shall be denied any benefit, relief, or privilege to which he or she might otherwise be entitled or eligible solely because he or she is financially unable and

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cannot become financially able to make restitution.

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Georgia Ga. Code Ann. § 15-9-60(d) Fees

Subject to the provisions of Code Section 15-9-61, and except for the filing of a proceeding in which the filing party also files with the court a sworn affidavit that the

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party is unable because of indigence to pay the cost of court, all sums specified in this Code section shall be paid to the court at the time of filing or as thereafter incurred for services rendered. In accordance with Code Section 15-9-61, the judges of the probate courts are entitled to an advance cost of $30.00 for deposit to be made before filing any proceeding.

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"Indigence to pay the cost of court."

At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No Not provided for
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Michigan Mich. Comp. Laws § 771.3(6)(a) Cost imposed as part of sentence of probation
(6) If the court imposes costs under subsection (2) as part of a sentence of probation, all of the following apply: (a) The court shall not require a probationer to
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pay costs under subsection (2) unless the probationer is or will be able to pay them during the term of probation. In determining the amount and method of payment of costs under subsection (2), the court shall take into account the probationer's financial resources and the nature of the burden that payment of costs will impose, with due regard to his or her other obligations.
All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Not specified