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.
32 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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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 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.
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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 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.
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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 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.
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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 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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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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New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2B:12-23.1 | Inability to pay fine in full on date of court hearing |
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, if a municipal court finds that a person does not have the ability to pay a penalty in full on the date + See moreof the hearing or has failed to pay a previously imposed penalty, the court may order the person to perform community service in lieu of the payment of a penalty; or, order the payment of the penalty in installments for a period of time determined by the court.
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All | Not provided for | Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | No |
Community service, installment plan |
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New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2B:12-23.1 | Default of payment |
If a person defaults on any payment and a municipal court finds that the defendant does not have the ability to pay, the court may: (1) reduce the penalty, suspend + See morethe penalty, or modify the installment plan; (2) order that credit be given against the amount owed for each day of confinement, if the court finds that the person has served jail time for the default; (3) revoke any unpaid portion of the penalty, if the court finds that the circumstances that warranted the imposition have changed or that it would be unjust to require payment; (4) order the person to perform community service in lieu of payment of the penalty; or (5) impose any other alternative permitted by law in lieu of payment of the penalty. b. For the purposes of this section, “penalty” means any fine, statutorily-mandated assessment, surcharge or other financial penalty imposed by a municipal court, except restitution or a surcharge assessed pursuant to subsection f. of section 1 of P.L.2000, c. 75 (C.39:4-97.2).
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All | Not provided for | At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | No |
(1) reduce the penalty, suspend the penalty, or modify the installment plan; (2) order that credit be given against the amount owed for each day of confinement, if the court finds that the person has served jail time for the default; (3) revoke any unpaid portion of the penalty, if the court finds that the circumstances that warranted the imposition have changed or that it would be unjust to require payment; (4) order the person to perform community service in lieu of payment of the penalty; or (5) impose any other alternative permitted by law in lieu of payment of the penalty
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New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:44-2 | Criteria for imposing fines |
a. The court may sentence a defendant to pay a fine in addition to a sentence of imprisonment or probation if: (1) The defendant has derived a pecuniary gain from the offense + See moreor the court is of opinion that a fine is specially adapted to deterrence of the type of offense involved or to the correction of the offender; (2) The defendant is able, or given a fair opportunity to do so, will be able to pay the fine; and (3) The fine will not prevent the defendant from making restitution to the victim of the offense... c. (1) In determining the amount and method of payment of a fine, the court shall take into account the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that its payment will impose.
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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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New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:44-2 | Criteria for imposing restitution |
b. The court shall sentence a defendant to pay restitution in addition to a sentence of imprisonment or probation that may be imposed if: (1) The victim, or in the case + See moreof a homicide, the nearest relative of the victim, suffered a loss; and (2) The defendant is able to pay or, given a fair opportunity, will be able to pay restitution. c. (1) In determining the amount and method of payment of a fine, the court shall take into account the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that its payment will impose. (2) In determining the amount and method of payment of restitution, the court shall take into account all financial resources of the defendant, including the defendant's likely future earnings, and shall set the amount of restitution so as to provide the victim with the fullest compensation for loss that is consistent with the defendant's ability to pay. The court shall not reduce a restitution award by any amount that the victim has received from the Violent Crimes Compensation Board, but shall order the defendant to pay any restitution ordered for a loss previously compensated by the Board to the Violent Crimes Compensation Board. If restitution to more than one person is set at the same time, the court shall set priorities of payment.
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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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New Jersey | N.J.Stat.Ann. § 2C:46-3 | Revocation of fine |
A defendant who has been sentenced to pay a fine may at any time petition the court which sentenced him for a revocation of the fine or of any unpaid + See moreportion thereof. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the circumstances which warranted the imposition of the fine have changed, or that it would otherwise be unjust to require payment, the court may revoke the fine or the unpaid portion thereof in whole or in part.
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All |
"would be otherwise unjust to require payment" |
At defendant's request at enforcement | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
revoke the fine in whole or in part |
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New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:158A-16 | services rendered - ability to pay |
In all cases where it appears that the defendant has or reasonably expects to have means to meet some part, though not all, of the cost of the services rendered + See moreto him he shall be required to reimburse the office, either by a single payment or in installments, in such amounts as he can reasonably be expected to pay; but no default or failure in the making of any such payment shall in any wise affect or reduce the rendering of the services to him.
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
Not specified |
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New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:43-3.1 | defendant's ability to pay |
In imposing this assessment, the court shall consider factors such as the severity of the crime, the defendant's criminal record, defendant's ability to pay and the economic impact of the + See moreassessment on the defendant's dependents.
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All | Not provided for | Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
Not specified |
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New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:43-13.8 (West) | Conditional dismissal assessment, restitution and other assessments |
A defendant may apply for a waiver of the fee, by reason of poverty, pursuant to the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey, or the court + See moremay permit the defendant to pay the conditional dismissal fee and other assessments in installments or may order other alternatives pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2009, c. 317 (C.2B:12-23.1).
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
waiver of fee, payment plan |
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New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:45-1 | Conditions of Suspension or Probation | This fee may be waived in cases of indigency upon application by the chief probation officer to the sentencing court. | All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Other | No |
waived |
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New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-20-6 | Conditions of order deferring or suspending sentence |
The defendant upon conviction shall be required to pay the actual costs of the defendant’s supervised probation service to the adult probation and parole division of the corrections department or appropriate responsible agency for deposit to the corrections department intensive supervision fund not exceeding one thousand eight hundred dollars ($1,800) annually to be paid in monthly installments of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and not more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150), as set by the appropriate district supervisor of the adult probation and parole division, based upon the financial circumstances of the defendant. The defendant’s payment of the supervised probation costs shall not be waived unless the court holds an evidentiary hearing and finds that the defendant is unable to pay the costs. If the court waives the defendant’s payment of the supervised probation costs and the defendant’s financial circumstances subsequently change so that the defendant is able to pay the costs, the appropriate district supervisor of the adult probation and parole division shall advise the court and the court shall hold an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the waiver should be rescinded.
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Determined by judge after hearing | No |
Fee waiver |
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New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-16-7 | Recovery from defendant |
A. The district attorney may, on behalf of the state, recover payment or reimbursement, as the case may be, from each person who has received legal assistance or another benefit under the Indigent Defense Act: (1) to which he was not entitled; (2) with respect to which he was not a needy person when he received it; or (3) with respect to which he has failed to make the certificate required by Section 62 B of the Indigent Defense Act and for which he refuses to pay. Suit must be brought within six years after the date on which the aid was received.
B. The district attorney may, on behalf of the state, recover payment or reimbursement, as the case may be, from each person other than a person covered by SMayubsection A who has received legal assistance under the Indigent Defense Act and who, on the date on which suit is brought, is financially able to pay or reimburse the state for it according to the standards of ability to pay applicable under the Indigent Defense Act but refuses to do so. Suit must be brought within three years after the date on which the benefit was received. |
All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | No |
May not recover payment or reimbursement. |
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New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-12-3(D) | Paying fines, fees, or costs in installments |
If it appears that a defendant's default in the payment of a fine, fees or costs is not contumacious, the court may allow the defendant additional time for payment, reduce the amount of the fine or of each installment, revoke the fine or the unpaid portion in whole or in part or require the defendant to perform community service in lieu of the fine, fees or costs.
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All |
Default not "contumacious" |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Additional time for payment, reduce the amount of the fine or of each installment, revoke the fine or the unpaid portion in whole or in part, or require the defendant to perform community service in lieu payment.
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New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-12-3(A) | Paying fines, fees, or costs in installments |
Any person sentenced to pay a fine or to pay fees and costs in any criminal proceeding against him, either in addition to or without a term of imprisonment, may in the discretion of the court be allowed to pay such fine, fees or costs in installments of such amounts, at such times and upon such conditions as the court may fix. The defendant may also be required to serve a period of time in labor to be known as “community service” in lieu of all or part of the fine. If unable to pay the fees or costs, he may be granted permission to perform community service in lieu of them as well . . .
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All |
Not provided for |
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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New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-16-5(B)-(C) | Determination of indigency |
B. In determining whether a person is a needy person and the extent of his inability to pay, the court concerned may consider such factors as income, property owned, outstanding obligations and the number and ages of his dependents. Release on bail does not necessarily prevent him from being a needy person. In each case, the person shall, subject to the penalties for perjury, certify in writing or by other record material factors relating to his ability to pay as the court prescribes.
C. To the extent that a person covered by Section 60 [31-16-3 NMSA 1978] of the Indigent Defense Act is able to provide for an attorney, the other necessary services and facilities of representation and court costs, the court may order him to provide for their payment. |
All |
Factors considered: income, property owned, outstanding obligations and number and age of dependents |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | Yes |
Representation provided without costs |
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New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-15-12(C) | Explanation of rights; waiver of counsel; application fee; indigency determination |
A person shall pay a non-refundable application fee of ten dollars ($10.00) at the time the person applies with the public defender for representation. The fee shall be deposited in the public defender automation fund. The public defender shall determine if the person is indigent and unable to pay the fee, subject to review by the court. When the person remains in custody and is unable to pay the fee, the court may waive payment of the fee.
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Other | No |
Fee waiver |
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New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-18-1.2(C)-(D) | Disposition of seized animals |
C. An agent of the New Mexico livestock board, an animal control agency operated by the state, a county or a municipality, or an animal shelter or other animal welfare organization designated by an animal control agency or an animal shelter, in the custody of which an animal that has been cruelly treated has been placed may petition the court to request that the animal's owner may be ordered to post security with the court to indemnify the costs incurred to care and provide for the seized animal pending the disposition of any criminal charges of committing cruelty to animals pending against the animal's owner.
D. The court shall determine the amount of security while taking into consideration all of the circumstances of the case including the owner’s ability to pay, and may conduct periodic reviews of its order. If the posting of security is ordered, the animal control agency, animal shelter or animal welfare organization may, with permission of the court, draw from the security to indemnify the costs incurred to care and provide for the seized animal pending disposition of the criminal charges. |
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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