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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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

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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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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

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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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"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,

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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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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. § 9-30-9-8 Alcohol Abuse Deterrent Program Fee or Medical Fee

(a) The court shall order a defendant participating in a program under this chapter to pay an alcohol abuse deterrent program fee or a medical fee, or both, unless the

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court determines that the defendant is indigent.

Felony

"Indigent."

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No Not provided for
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Indiana Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 33-37-3-3 (c);(d) Actions Commenced by Person Confined by Department of Corrections

(c) If the offender claims exceptional circumstances that render the offender unable to pay the partial filing fee required by this section, in addition to the statement required by section 2

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of this chapter and the statement of account required by subsection (a), the offender shall submit an affidavit of special circumstances setting forth the reasons and circumstances that justify relief from the partial filing fee requirement;   (d) If the court approves the application to waive all fees, the court shall give written notice to the offender that all fees and costs relating to the filing and service will be waived. If the court denies the application to waive all fees, the court shall give written notice to the offender that the offender’s case will be dismissed if the partial filing fee is not paid not later than forty-five (45) days after the date of the order, or within an additional period that the court may, upon request, allow. Process concerning the offender’s case may not be served until the fee is paid.

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"The offender claims exceptional circumstances."

Not provided for Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Not provided for No

The court may award a partial filing fee or may waive all fees.

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Indiana Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 33-37-3-2 (a)(1) Right to Bring Action Without Paying Fees

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person entitled to bring a civil action or to petition for the appointment of a guardian under IC 29-3-5 may do so without

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paying the required fees or other court costs if the person files a statement in court, under oath and in writing: (1) declaring that the person is unable to make the payments or to give security for the payments because of the person’s indigency.

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"The person is unable to make the payments or to give security for the payments because of the person’s indigency."

Not provided for Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Not provided for No Not provided for
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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

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fee.

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. § 33-37-5-22 (a)(3);(d) Late Payment Fees - Local Rule

(a) Except as provided in subsections (e) and (f), this section applies to an action if all the following apply:… (3) The defendant is not determined by the court imposing

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the court costs, fine, or civil penalty to be indigent.;   (d) Notwithstanding IC 33-37-2-2, a court may suspend a late payment fee if the court finds that the defendant has demonstrated good cause for failure to make a timely payment of court costs, a fine, or a civil penalty.

All

"Indigent."

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

"A court may suspend a late payment fee if the court finds that the defendant has demonstrated good cause for failure to make a timely payment of court costs, a

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fine, or a civil penalty."

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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

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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.

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

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amount of restitution that the individual is or will be able to pay.

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. § 9-30-8-1 Court Order of Device Installation — Court-Ordered Term for Compliance

If a court orders the installation of a certified ignition interlock device on a motor vehicle that a person whose license is restricted owns or expects to operate, the court

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shall set the time that the installation must remain in effect. However, the term may not exceed the maximum term of imprisonment the court could have imposed. The person shall pay the cost of installation unless the sentencing court determines that the person is indigent.

Traffic

"indigent."

Not provided for 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

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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:

All

Indigency.

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

The court may suspend the fine.

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Indiana Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 33-37-2-3 (a) - (b) 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,

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the court shall order the person to pay: ... (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:

All

"indigent."

Not provided for Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing No

The court may "suspend payment of all or part of the costs until the convicted person has completed all or part of the sentence"

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Indiana Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-33-8-3.3 (i) Pretrial Services Fees

(i) A probation department or pretrial services agency may petition a court to: (1) impose a pretrial services fee on a defendant; or (2) increase a defendant’s pretrial services fee; if the financial

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ability of the defendant to pay a pretrial services fee changes while the defendant is on bail and supervised by a probation officer or pretrial services agency.

All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No Not provided for
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Vermont Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13 § 5238(f) Co-payment and reimbursement orders

A person who may be or has been ordered to pay all or part of the cost of representation by co-payment or reimbursement order may at any time petition the

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court making the order for remission of all of the amount or any part thereof. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that payment of the amount due will impose manifest hardships on the defendant or the defendant's immediate family or that the circumstances of case disposition and the interests of justice so require, the court may remit all or part of the amount due or modify the method of payment.

All

Payment of the amount due will impose manifest hardships on the defendant or the defendant's immediate family or that the circumstances of case disposition and the interests of justice so

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require.

At defendant's request before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Other No

Court will remit all or part of the amount due or modify the method of payment.

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Vermont Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13 § 7180(c)(3),(4)(C) Remedies for failure to pay fines, costs, surcharges, and penalties

(c) Civil contempt proceeding. (3) Hearing. --  The hearing shall be conducted in a summary manner. The court shall examine the defendant and any other witnesses and may require the defendant

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to produce documents relevant to the defendant's ability to pay the amount due. Evidence is admissible if it is of a type commonly relied upon by a reasonably prudent person in the conduct of his or her affairs. The Vermont Rules of Evidence shall not apply except that the rules related to privilege shall apply. The State shall not be a party except with the permission of the court. The defendant may be represented by counsel at the defendant's own expense.

(4)(C)  If the court concludes that the defendant is not in contempt because the defendant does not have the ability to pay the amount due, the court may: (i)  suspend all or any part of the amount due in the interests of justice, except that the court may not waive surcharges imposed pursuant to section 7282 of this title; (ii)  order the defendant to participate in the Restorative Justice Program conducted by a community reparative board and direct the reparative board to determine an appropriate amount of community service to be performed in lieu of all or part of the amount due.

All

Not provided for

At enforcement of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Suspend all or any part of the amount due in the interests of justice, except that the court may not waive surcharges imposed pursuant to section 7282 of this title;

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order the defendant to participate in the Restorative Justice Program conducted by a community reparative board and direct the reparative board to determine an appropriate amount of community service to be performed in lieu of all or part of the amount due.

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Vermont Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13 § 7180(f) Community service for traffic offense

(f) (1)  A defendant who is not incarcerated may file a motion to convert all or part of a traffic offense fine to community service. The court may grant the motion if

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the defendant establishes that he or she has made a good faith effort to pay the fine but is unable to do so. A fine converted to community service pursuant to this subsection shall not be considered a modification of sentence and shall not be subject to the time limits of Vermont Rule of Criminal Procedure 35.

(2)  Community service performed pursuant to a motion granted under this subsection shall be: (A)  credited against outstanding fines at the then-existing rate of the Vermont minimum wage: (B)  monitored by Diversion, a restorative justice panel of a community justice center, or a similar entity approved by the court, that shall report on the defendant's compliance status to the court; (C)  performed in the county where the offense occurred.

(3)  A conversion of a fine to community service under this subsection: (A)  shall not apply to surcharges, court costs, or other assessments; (B)  shall be in addition to the contempt procedures applicable under this section.

Traffic

Made a good faith effort to pay the fine but is unable to do so.

At defendant's request at enforcement Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Other No

Convert to community service

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Vermont Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13 § 2022 Bad checks

A person who issues or passes a check or similar sight order for the payment of money, knowing that it will not be honored by the drawee, shall be imprisoned

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for not more than one year or fined not more than $ 1,000.00, or both. The court shall order restitution in the amount of the check or order, together with a service charge not to exceed $ 5.00, if it is established that the defendant has the ability to pay.

Misdemeanor

Not provided for

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

No restitution or service charge ordered

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Vermont Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13 § 7043(d)(2),(e)(1) Restitution

(d) In awarding restitution, the Court shall make findings with respect to: . . . (2) The offender's current ability to pay restitution, based on all financial information available to

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the Court, including information provided by the offender.

(e)(1) An order of restitution shall establish the amount of the material loss incurred by the victim, which shall be the restitution judgment order. In the event the offender is unable to pay the restitution judgment order at the time of sentencing, the court shall establish a restitution payment schedule for the offender based upon the offender's current and reasonably foreseeable ability to pay, subject to modification under subsection (l) of this section. 

All

Not provided for

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Payment plan