50-State Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder Bringing transparency to areas of significant legal complexity.
Ability to Pay
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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.
20 Results
| 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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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-56i(g) | Pretrial drug education and community service program. |
No person may be excluded from any such program for inability to pay such fee or cost, provided (1) such person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or + See moreinability to pay, (2) such indigency or inability to pay is confirmed by the Court Support Services Division, and (3) the court enters a finding thereof. The court may waive all or any portion of such fee depending on such persons ability to pay. If the court finds that a person is indigent or unable to pay for a substance abuse treatment program, the costs of such program shall be paid from the pretrial account established under section 54-56k.
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indigency |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | Yes |
costs of such program shall be paid from the pretrial account |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-696(e) | Order for suspension of prosecution and treatment for alcohol or drug dependency. |
. . . (4) the accused person, unless such accused person is indigent, has paid to the clerk of the court an administration fee of twenty-five dollars. |
All |
indigent |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
waiver of fee |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-696(e) | Order for suspension of prosecution and treatment for alcohol or drug dependency. |
The accused person shall, unless indigent, pay the cost of treatment ordered under this section. |
All |
indigent |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
waiver of cost of treatment |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-56e(e) | Accelerated pretrial rehabilitation |
. . . No person may be excluded from such program for inability to pay such fee, provided (1) such person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, (2) such indigency or inability to pay is confirmed by the Court Support Services Division, and (3) the court enters a finding thereof.
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All |
indigency |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | Yes |
admission to program without paying fees |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-56g(g) | Pretrial alcohol education program (victim impact panel program fees) |
. . . provided such organization shall offer a hardship waiver when it has determined that the imposition of a fee would pose an economic hardship for such person. |
All |
economic hardship |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
hardship waiver |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-56g(c) | Pretrial alcohol education program |
. . . No person may be excluded from either program for inability to pay such fee or cost, provided (1) such person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, (2) such indigency or inability to pay is confirmed by the Court Support Services Division, and (3) the court enters a finding thereof. If the court finds that a person is indigent or unable to pay for a treatment program, the costs of such program shall be paid from the pretrial account established under section 54-56k. If the court finds that a person is indigent or unable to pay for an intervention program, the court may waive all or any portion of the fee for such intervention program.
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All |
indigency |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | Yes |
costs of such program shall be paid from the pretrial account |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-56j(f) | Pretrial school violence prevention program. |
. . . no student shall be excluded from such program for inability to pay such cost provided (1) the parent or guardian of such student files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, and (2) the court enters a finding thereof.
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All |
indigency |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | Yes |
admission to program without paying fees |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-125f(d) | Pilot zero-tolerance drug supervision program. |
. . . if the participant is determined to be indigent, based upon financial affidavits, the Board of Pardons and Paroles shall pay the cost of the test |
All |
indigent, based upon financial affidavits |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Administrative decision | Yes |
Department of Correction shall pay the cost |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-38c(i) | Pretrial family violence education program; fees. |
. . . no person shall be excluded from such program for inability to pay any such fee, provided (1) the person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, and (2) the court enters a finding thereof
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All |
indigency |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | Yes |
admission to program without paying fees |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 18-100e(d) | Pilot zero-tolerance drug supervision program (urinalysis fee) |
(d) Any person who has submitted to a urinalysis drug test pursuant to subsection (c) of this section that produced a positive result may request that a second urinalysis drug test be administered, at such persons expense, to confirm the results of the first test, except that if the participant is determined to be indigent, based upon financial affidavits, the Department of Correction shall pay the cost of the test. The second drug test shall be a urinalysis drug test, separate and independent of the initial test.
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All |
indigent, based upon financial affidavits |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Administrative decision | Yes |
Department of Correction shall pay the cost |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-28(c) | Authorized sentences. |
. . . In determining the appropriate terms of financial restitution, the court shall consider: (A) The financial resources of the offender and the burden restitution will place on other obligations of the offender; (B) the offenders ability to pay based on installments or other conditions; (C) the rehabilitative effect on the offender of the payment of restitution and the method of payment; and (D) other circumstances, including the financial burden and impact on the victim, that the court determines make the terms of restitution appropriate. If the court determines that the current financial resources of the offender or the offenders current ability to pay based on installments or other conditions are such that no appropriate terms of restitution can be determined, the court may forego setting such terms.
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All |
current financial resources of the offender or the offenders current ability to pay based on installments or other conditions are such that no appropriate terms of restitution can be determined |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
The court may forgo setting restitution |
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Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-39c(b) | Community service labor program. |
. . . no person may be excluded from such program for inability to pay such fee, provided (1) such person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, (2) such indigency is confirmed by the Court Support Services Division, and (3) the court enters a finding thereof.
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All |
indigency |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Not provided for | Yes |
admission to program without paying fees |
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Indiana | Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 33-37-2-3 | Indigency Hearing — Suspension of Costs — Default — Fees for Representation — Rights and Protections |
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), when the court imposes costs, it shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the convicted person is indigent. If the person is not indigent, the court shall order the person to pay:(1) the entire amount of the costs at the time sentence is pronounced; (2) the entire amount of the costs at some later date; or (3) specified parts of the costs at designated intervals. (b) A court may impose costs and suspend payment of all or part of the costs until the convicted person has completed all or part of the sentence. If the court suspends payment of the costs, the court shall conduct a hearing at the time the costs are due to determine whether the convicted person is indigent. If the convicted person is not indigent, the court shall order the convicted person to pay the costs: (1) at the time the costs are due; or (2) in a manner set forth in subsection (a)(2) through (a)(3). ... (d) Upon any default in the payment of the costs: (1) an attorney representing the county may bring an action on a debt for the unpaid amount; (2) the court may direct that the person, if the person is not indigent, be committed to the county jail and credited toward payment at the rate of twenty dollars ($20) for each twenty-four (24) hour period the person is confined, until the amount paid plus the amount credited equals the entire amount due; or (3) the court may institute contempt proceedings to enforce the court's order for payment of the costs. (e) If, after a hearing under subsection (a) or (b), the court determines that a convicted person is able to pay part of the costs of representation, the court shall order the person to pay an amount of not more than the cost of the defense services rendered on behalf of the person. The clerk shall deposit the amount paid by a convicted person under this subsection in the county’s supplemental public defender services fund established under IC 33-40-3-1.
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All |
Indigency. |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | Yes |
The court may suspend the costs. |
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Indiana | Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-33-8-3.3 (b) | Pretrial Services Fees |
(b) If a defendant who has a prior unrelated conviction for any offense is charged with a new offense and placed under the supervision of a probation officer or pretrial services agency, the court may order the defendant to pay the pretrial services fee prescribed under subsection (e) if: (1) the defendant has the financial ability to pay the fee; and (2) the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that supervision by a probation officer or pretrial services agency is necessary to ensure the: (A) defendant's appearance in court; or (B) physical safety of the community or of another person.
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All |
"Defendant has the financial ability to pay the fee." |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | Yes | Not provided for |
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Indiana | Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-33-7-6 (a);(c) | Determination of Indigency — Assignment of Counsel — Payment of Fees — Review of Findings |
(a) Prior to the completion of the initial hearing, the judicial officer shall determine whether a person who requests assigned counsel is indigent. If the person is found to be indigent, the judicial officer shall assign counsel to the person. ... (c) If the court finds that the person is able to pay part of the cost of representation by the assigned counsel, the court shall order the person to pay the following:(1) For a felony action, a fee of one hundred dollars ($100). (2) For a misdemeanor action, a fee of fifty dollars ($50). The clerk of the court shall deposit fees collected under this subsection in the county's supplemental public defender services fund established under Ind. Code § 33-40-3-1 .
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All |
Indigency. |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | Yes |
The individual may be assigned counsel. |
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Indiana | Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 33-37-5-9 (c) | Drug Abuse, Prosecution, Interdiction, and Correction Fee |
In determining the amount of the drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction, and correction fee assessed against a person under subsection (b), a court shall consider the person's ability to pay the fee.
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All | Not provided for | Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes | Not provided for |
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Indiana | Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 33-37-5-18 (c) | Safe schools fee |
In determining the amount of the safe schools fee assessed against a person under subsection (a), a court shall consider the person’s ability to pay the fee. |
Felony | Not provided for | Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes | Not provided for |
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Indiana | Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-5-4 (c) | Reimbursement Order |
The court shall fix an amount under this section that: (1) may not exceed an amount the person can or will be able to pay; (2) does not harm the person's ability to reasonably be self-supporting or to reasonably support any dependent of the person; and (3) takes into consideration and gives priority to any other restitution, reparation, repayment, costs (including fees), fine, or child support obligations the person is required to pay.
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All |
Does not exceed amount person can pay, does not harm ability to support self or dependents, takes into account other obligations |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes | Not provided for |
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Indiana | Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 9-30-5-17 (c) | Restitution to Emergency Medical Services Restitution Fund — Limit Upon Amount of Restitution |
In making an order for restitution under this section, the court shall consider the following:(1) The schedule of costs submitted to the court under Ind. Code § 16-31-8-5. (2) The amount of restitution that the individual is or will be able to pay.
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Traffic | Not provided for | Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes | Not provided for |
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Indiana | Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-38-1-18 (a) - (b) | Payment of Fines |
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), whenever the court imposes a fine, it shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the convicted person is indigent. If the person is not indigent, the court shall order:(1) that the person pay the entire amount at the time sentence is pronounced; (2) that the person pay the entire amount at some later date; (3) that the person pay specified parts at designated intervals; or (4) at the request of the person, commitment of the person to the county jail for a period of time set by the court in lieu of a fine. If the court orders a person committed to jail under this subdivision, the person's total confinement for the crime that resulted in the conviction must not exceed the maximum term of imprisonment prescribed for the crime under Ind. Code § 35-50-2 or Ind. Code § 35-50-3. (b) A court may impose a fine and suspend payment of all or part of the fine until the convicted person has completed all or part of the sentence. If the court suspends payment of the fine, the court shall conduct a hearing at the time the fine is due to determine whether the convicted person is indigent. If the convicted person is not indigent, the court shall order the convicted person to pay the fine:
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All |
Indigency. |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | Yes |
The court may suspend the fine. |
The Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder is a project of the National Criminal Justice Debt Initiative of the Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard Law School in collaboration with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University and with user experience design by metaLAB (at) Harvard.
For more information, please visit cjpp.law.harvard.edu.