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.

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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.

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"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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Minnesota Minn. Stat. Ann. § 244.18(4) Local correctional fees; imposition on offenders

Exemption from fee. — The chief executive officer of the local correctional agency may waive payment of the fee if the officer determines that the offender does not have the ability to

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pay the fee, the prospects for payment are poor, or there are extenuating circumstances justifying waiver of the fee. Instead of waiving the fee, the local correctional agency may require the offender to perform community work service as a means of paying the fee.

All

Not provided for

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

Fee waiver; community service.

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Minnesota Minn. Stat. Ann. § 244.18(2) Local correctional fees; imposition on offenders

Local correctional fees. — A local correctional agency may establish a schedule of local correctional fees to charge persons under the supervision and control of the local correctional agency to defray costs

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associated with correctional services. The local correctional fees on the schedule must be reasonably related to defendants’ abilities to pay and the actual cost of correctional services.

All

Not provided for

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

Not provided for

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Minnesota Minn. R. Crim. P. 28.02(5)(9) Appeal by defendant

All fees--including appeal fees, hearing fees, or filing fees--ordinarily charged by the clerk of the appellate courts or court administrators are waived when the State Public Defender's office, or other

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public defender's office, represents the defendant. The court must also waive these fees on a sufficient showing by any other attorney that the defendant cannot pay them.

All

Not provided for

Before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge without hearing No

Fee waiver

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Minnesota Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.104(1)(b) Fine and Surcharge Collection

The defendant may contest the referral for collection based on inability to pay by requesting a hearing no later than the due date. The defendant shall be notified in writing at sentencing that under section 480.15, subdivision 10c, the court may refer the case for collection for nonpayment, and collection costs may be added to the amount due. The defendant shall also be notified in writing of the right to contest a referral for collection. The state court administrator shall develop

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the notice language.

All

Not provided for

At defendant's request at enforcement Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Not specified

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Minnesota Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.101(5)(b) Surcharge on Fines, Assessments; Minimum Fines

If the defendant qualifies for the services of a public defender or the court finds on the record that the convicted person is indigent or that immediate payment of the

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fine would create undue hardship for the convicted person or that person’s immediate family, the court may reduce the amount of the minimum fine to not less than $ 50. Additionally, the court may permit the defendant to perform community work service in lieu of a fine.

All

Indigent or that immediate payment of the fine would create undue hardship for the convicted person or that person’s immediate family.

Before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge without hearing No

Maximum $50 fine or community service.

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Minnesota Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.226(4)(c) Harm caused by dog

The court shall order a person convicted of violating this subdivision to pay restitution for the costs and expenses resulting from the crime. Costs and expenses include, but are not

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limited to, the service animal user's loss of income, veterinary expenses, transportation costs, and other expenses of temporary replacement assistance services, and service animal replacement or retraining costs incurred by a school, agency, or individual. If the court finds that the convicted person is indigent, the court may reduce the amount of restitution to a reasonable level or order it paid in installments.

All

Indigent

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

Reduce the amount of restitution to a reasonable level or order it paid in installments.

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Minnesota Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.324(4) Patrons; prostitutes; housing individuals engaged in prostitution; penalties

Community service in lieu of minimum fine. The court may order a person convicted of violating subdivision 2 or 3 to perform community work service in lieu of all or

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a portion of the minimum fine required under those subdivisions if the court makes specific, written findings that the convicted person is indigent or that payment of the fine would create undue hardship for the convicted person or that person's immediate family. Community work service ordered under this subdivision is in addition to any mandatory community work service ordered under subdivision 3.

All

Indigent or that payment of the fine would create undue hardship for the convicted person or that person's immediate family.

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

Community service in lieu of payment.

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Minnesota Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.3241(b) Sex Crimes: Penalty assessment authorized

The court may not waive payment of the minimum assessment required by this section. If the defendant qualifies for the services of a public defender or the court finds on

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the record that the convicted person is indigent or that immediate payment of the assessment would create undue hardship for the convicted person or that person's immediate family, the court may reduce the amount of the minimum assessment to not less than $100. The court also may authorize payment of the assessment in installments.

All

Indigent or that immediate payment of the assessment would create undue hardship for the convicted person or that person's immediate family,

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

Reduce fee to $100 or less or allow for installments.