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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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.

All

"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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Mississippi Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-20 (2) Fines; payment; indigent defendants; inability to work or unavailability of work
The defendant shall not be imprisoned if the defendant is financially unable to pay a fine and so states to the court in writing, under oath, after sentence is pronounced,
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and the court so finds
All Not provided for At defendant's request at enforcement Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Other Yes

work for the county

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Mississippi Miss. Code Ann. § 99-5-38 (8) community service
The court may allow a defendant to perform community service in lieu of paying the costs required by subsection (2)(b) or (c) if the court determines that the defendant is
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indigent.
Felony

indigence

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

community service

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Mississippi Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-31 (7)(a) Interlock Device Fund
The Department of Public Safety shall promulgate rules and regulations for the use of monies in the Interlock Device Fund to offset the cost of device installation and operation by
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and court-ordered drug testing of indigent offenders.
Misdemeanor

inadequate resources to pay; participation in public assistance programs

Not provided for Burden on government to show ability to pay Administrative decision Yes

Interlock Device Fund

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Mississippi Miss. Code Ann. § 47-7-49 (1) hardship waiver
A hardship waiver may be granted by the sentencing court or the Department of Corrections. A hardship waiver may not be granted for a period of time exceeding ninety (90)
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days. 
Misdemeanor

inability to pay

At defendant's request at enforcement Not provided for Not provided for Yes

hardship waiver

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Mississippi Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-1007 (1)(a) Waiver The department may waive the monthly fee if the offender is a full-time student or is engaged in vocational training. Misdemeanor

full-time student

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

waiver

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Mississippi Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-1007 (1)(b) sliding scale based on a sliding scale using the standard of need for each family that is used to calculate TANF benefits Misdemeanor

TANF benefits recipient

Not provided for Not provided for Other Yes

sliding scale for payment

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Mississippi Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-1013 (a) waiver
The sentencing judge may charge a program fee of less than Eighty-eight Dollars ($ 88.00) per month in cases of extreme financial hardship, when such judge determines that the offender's
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participation in the program would provide a benefit to his community.
Misdemeanor

extreme financial hardship

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

lower fee

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Mississippi Miss. Code Ann. § 99-37-3(2) Imposition and amount
In determining whether to order restitution which may be complete, partial or nominal, the court shall take into account:(a) The financial resources of the defendant and the burden that payment
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of restitution will impose, with due regard to the other obligations of the defendant; (b) The ability of the defendant to pay restitution on an installment basis or on other conditions to be fixed by the court; and (c) The rehabilitative effect on the defendant of the payment of restitution and the method of payment.
All

ability of defendant to pay on installment basis, financial resources of the defendant, burden of payment

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

installment plan, reduction of amount, or waiver

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Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws. Ann. § 12-20-10(b) Remission of costs -- Prohibition against remitting restitution to victims of crime -- Ability to pay -- Indigency

(b)  For purposes of §§ 12-18.1-3(d), 12-21-20, 12-25-28(b), 21-28-4.01(c)(3)(iv) and 21-28-4.17.1, the following conditions shall be prima facie evidence of the defendant's indigency and limited ability to pay:

(1)  Qualification for and/or receipt of any of the following benefits

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or services by the defendant: (i)  temporary assistance to needy families (ii)  social security including supplemental security income and state supplemental payments program; (iii)  public assistance (iv)  disability insurance; or (v)  food stamps

(2)  Despite the defendant's good faith efforts to pay, outstanding court orders for payment in the amount of one-hundred dollars ($ 100) or more for any of the following: (i)  restitution payments to the victims of crime; (ii)  child support payments; or (iii)  payments for any counseling required as a condition of the sentence imposed including, but not limited to, substance abuse, mental health, and domestic violence.

All

Indigency; Qualification for and/or receipt of temporary assistance to needy families, social security including supplemental security income and state supplemental payments program, public assistance, disability insurance; or food stamps; outstanding court orders for

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payment in the amount of one-hundred dollars ($ 100) or more for restitution payments to the victims of crime, child support payments; or payments for any counseling required as a condition of the sentence imposed including, but not limited to, substance abuse, mental health, and domestic violence.

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

N/A

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Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws. Ann. § 12-21-20 Order to pay costs and determination of ability to pay

(a) If, upon any complaint or prosecution before any court, the defendant shall be ordered to pay a fine, enter into a recognizance or suffer any penalty or forfeiture, he or

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she shall also be ordered to pay all costs of prosecution, unless directed otherwise by law.

(b) In superior court, the judge shall make a preliminary assessment of the defendant's ability to pay immediately after sentencing by use of the procedures specified in this section.

(c) In district court, the judge shall make a preliminary assessment of the defendant's ability to pay immediately after sentencing or nearly thereafter as practicable by use of the procedures specified in this section.

(d) The defendant's ability to pay and payment schedule shall be determined by use of standardized procedures including a financial assessment instrument. The financial assessment instrument shall be: (1) based upon sound and generally accepted accounting principles; (2) completed based on a personal interview of the defendant and includes any and all relevant information relating to the defendant's present ability to pay including, but not limited to, the information contained in § 12-20-10; and (3) made by the defendant under oath.

(e) The financial instrument may, from time to time and after hearing, be modified by the court.

(f) When persons come before the court for failure to pay fines, fees, assessments and other costs of prosecution, or court ordered restitution, and their ability to pay and payment schedule has not been previously determined, the judge, the clerk of the court, or their designee shall make these determinations by use of the procedures specified in this section.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the court's ability, after hearing in open court, to revise findings about a person's ability to pay and payment schedule made by the clerk of the court or designee, based upon the receipt of newly available, relevant, or other information.

All

Not provided for

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing No

N/A

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Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws. Ann. § 12-19-32 Restitution

In addition to or in lieu of any non-mandatory sanction imposed as part of a sentence or as a condition of probation, a judge at the time of sentencing may

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order restitution which may be in the form of monetary payment or some type of community restitution. Provided, that any person sentenced to a period of incarceration at the adult correctional institutions shall be ineligible to participate in those programs established pursuant to chapter 8 of title 13, sections 42-56-20.2, 42-56-20.3 or 42-56-21, unless and until the restitution has been paid in full, or satisfactory arrangements have been made with the court if the person has the ability to pay. 

All

Not provided for

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

Able to participate in programs without satisfying restitution payments.