Ability to Pay

Keyword search across all of the laws in the states. Subject-area tabs above allow you to narrow results. Click the advanced search for further refinement.

Every law can be saved to the Reform Builder  

See all ability to pay policy recommendations in CJPP’s Policy Guide

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.

6 Results

Export results to Excel

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
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Hawaii Haw. Rev. Stat. § 706-644(1),(4) Consequences of nonpayment; imprisonment for contumacious nonpayment; summary collection.

(1) When a defendant is sentenced pursuant to section 706-605, granted a conditional discharge pursuant to section 712-1255, or granted a deferred plea pursuant to chapter 853, and the defendant is

+ See more
ordered to pay a fee, fine, or restitution, whether as an independent order, as part of a judgment and sentence, or as a condition of probation or deferred plea, and the defendant defaults in the payment thereof or of any installment, the court, upon the motion of the prosecuting attorney or upon its own motion, may require the defendant to show cause why the defendant’s default should not be treated as contumacious and may issue a summons or a warrant of arrest for the defendant’s appearance. Unless the defendant shows that the defendant’s default was not attributable to an intentional refusal to obey the order of the court, or to a failure on the defendant’s part to make a good faith effort to obtain the funds required for the payment, the court shall find that the defendant’s default was contumacious and may order the defendant committed until the fee, fine, restitution, or a specified part thereof is paid.

(4) If it appears that the defendant’s default in the payment of a fee, fine, or restitution is not contumacious, the court may make an order allowing the defendant additional time for payment, reducing the amount of each installment, or revoking the fee, fine, or the unpaid portion thereof in whole or in part, or converting the unpaid portion of the fee or fine to community service. A defendant shall not be discharged from an order to pay restitution until the full amount of the restitution has actually been collected or accounted for.

All

Not provided for

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

Additional time to pay, reduction in the amount owed, revoking part of or whole fine, or community service in lieu of payment.

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Maine Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17-A §1902(1) Deferred disposition

1. Authority of court to order deferment and impose requirements; administrative supervision fee. Following the acceptance of a plea of guilty for a crime for which a person is eligible for

+ See more
a deferred disposition under section 1901, the court may order sentencing deferred to a date certain or determinable and impose requirements upon the person, to be in effect during the period of deferment, considered by the court to be reasonable and appropriate to assist the person to lead a law-abiding life. The court-imposed deferment requirements must include a requirement that the person refrain from criminal conduct and may include a requirement that the person pay to the appropriate county an administrative supervision fee of not more than $50 per month, as determined by the court, for the term of the deferment. In determining the amount of the fee, the court shall take into account the financial resources of the person and the nature of the burden its payment imposes. In exchange for the deferred sentencing, the person shall abide by the court-imposed deferment requirements. Unless the court orders otherwise, the requirements are immediately in effect.

All

The financial resources of the person and the nature of the burden its payment imposes.

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing No Not provided for
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Maine Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17-A § 1607 Prohibition against imprisonment based on incapacity to pay fine

If a court finds that an individual has met the burden of proving incapacity to pay a fine pursuant to section 1702, subsection 2, the court may not impose a

+ See more
term of imprisonment or any other sentencing alternative involving imprisonment solely for the reason that the individual does not have the present or future capacity to pay the fine.

All

Not provided for

At enforcement of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Not provided for No Not provided for
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

West Virginia W. Va. Code § 62-12-17(a)(5),(c) Conditions of release on probation and parole

(a) Release and supervision on parole of any person, including the supervision by the Division of Corrections of any person paroled by any other state or by the federal government,

+ See more
shall be upon the following conditions: . . .  (5) That the parolee, and all federal or foreign state probationers and parolees whose supervision may have been undertaken by this state, pay a fee, based on his or her ability to pay, not to exceed $40 per month to defray the costs of supervision.

(c) The Division of Corrections shall consider the following factors in determining whether a parolee or probationer is financially able to pay the fee: (1) Current income prospects for the parolee or probationer, taking into account seasonal variations in income; (2) Liquid assets of the parolee or probationer, assets of the parolee or probationer that may provide collateral to obtain funds and assets of the parolee or probationer that may be liquidated to provide funds to pay the fee; (3) Fixed debts and obligations of the parolee or probationer, including federal, state and local taxes and medical expenses; (4) Child care, transportation and other reasonably necessary expenses of the parolee or probationer related to employment; and (5) The reasonably foreseeable consequences for the parolee or probationer if a waiver of, or reduction in, the fee is denied.

All

Consideration of: (1) Current income prospects for the parolee or probationer, taking into account seasonal variations in income; (2) Liquid assets of the parolee or probationer, assets of the parolee

+ See more
or probationer that may provide collateral to obtain funds and assets of the parolee or probationer that may be liquidated to provide funds to pay the fee; (3) Fixed debts and obligations of the parolee or probationer, including federal, state and local taxes and medical expenses; (4) Child care, transportation and other reasonably necessary expenses of the parolee or probationer related to employment; and (5) The reasonably foreseeable consequences for the parolee or probationer if a waiver of, or reduction in, the fee is denied.

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

No fee or reduced fee

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

West Virginia W. Va. Code § 61-11A-4(g) Restitution; when ordered

(g) If the defendant is placed on probation or paroled under this article, any restitution ordered under this section shall be a condition of the probation or parole unless the

+ See more
court or Parole Board finds restitution to be wholly or partially impractical as set forth in this article.
The court may revoke probation and the Parole Board may revoke parole if the defendant fails to comply with the order.  In determining whether to revoke probation or parole, the court or Parole Board shall consider the defendant's employment status, earning ability, financial resources, the willfulness of the defendant's failure to pay, and any other special circumstances that may have a bearing on the defendant's ability to pay.

All

The defendant's employment status, earning ability, financial resources, the willfulness of the defendant's failure to pay, and any other special circumstances that may have a bearing on the defendant's ability

+ See more
to pay.

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

Court/Parole Board may choose not to revoke probation or parole.

BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

West Virginia W. Va. Code § 50-3-2a(c)(1) Payment by credit card or payment plan; suspension of licenses for failure to make payments or appear or respond; restitution; liens

(c)(1) If any costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties imposed by the magistrate court in a criminal case are not paid within one hundred eighty days from the date of

+ See more
judgment and the expiration of any stay of execution, the magistrate court clerk or, upon judgment rendered on appeal, the circuit clerk shall notify the Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles of the failure to pay: Provided, That in a criminal case in which a nonresident of this state is convicted of a motor vehicle violation defined in section three-a [§ 17B-3-3a], article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code, the appropriate clerk shall notify the Division of Motor Vehicles of the failure to pay within eighty days from the date of judgment and expiration of any stay of execution. Upon notice, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall suspend any privilege the person defaulting on payment may have to operate a motor vehicle in this state, including any driver's license issued to the person by the Division of Motor Vehicles, until all costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties are paid in full. The suspension shall be imposed in accordance with the provisions of section six [§ 17B-3-6], article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code: Provided, That any person who has had his or her license to operate a motor vehicle in this state suspended pursuant to this subsection and his or her failure to pay is based upon inability to pay, may, if he or she is employed on a full- or part-time basis, petition to the circuit court for an order authorizing him or her to operate a motor vehicle solely for employment purposes. Upon a showing satisfactory to the court of inability to pay, employment and compliance with other applicable motor vehicle laws, the court shall issue an order granting relief.

All

Not provided for

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

Circuit court may issue an order authorizing the individual to operate a motor vehicle solely for employment purposes.