50-State Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder Bringing transparency to areas of significant legal complexity.
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.
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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.
168 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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Idaho | Idaho Code § 19-4904 | Inability to Pay Costs |
If the applicant is unable to pay court costs and expenses of representation, including stenographic, printing, witness fees and expenses, and legal services, these costs and expenses, and a court-appointed attorney may be made available to the applicant in the preparation of the application, in the trial court, and on appeal, and paid, on order of the district court, by the county in which the application is filed.
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"Unable to pay court costs and expenses of representation." |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
"These costs and expenses, and a court-appointed attorney may be made available to the applicant." |
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Idaho | Idaho Code § 31-3201J(1);(5) | Pretrial Supervision Fee |
(1) Any person under a supervised pretrial release program may be required to pay an amount not more than the maximum monthly misdemeanor probation supervision fee set forth in section 31-3201D, Idaho Code, per month, or such lesser sum as determined by the administrative judge of the judicial district, as a pretrial release supervision fee to cover the actual costs of supervising the defendant while in the supervised pretrial release program; (5) Based on a finding of indigence or other good cause, the court may exempt the defendant from the payment of all or any part of the fees authorized by this section, and no defendant shall be denied release or denied participation in a supervised pretrial release program because of an inability to pay the fees authorized by this section. Any unpaid pretrial services fee shall be considered a debt owed to the court and may be collected in the manner provided by law for the collection of such debts.
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All |
"Indigence or other good cause." |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
"The court may exempt the defendant from the payment of all or any part of the fees authorized by this section." |
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2262(2)(m) | Probation; conditions |
(2) The court may, as a condition of a sentence of probation, require the offender: offender assessment screens, and rehabilitative services required in the identification, evaluation, and treatment of offenders if such offender has the financial ability to pay for such services;
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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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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2208(1)-(2),(4) | Fines or costs; person financially unable to pay; hearing; determination; court or magistrate; powers; order; operate as release |
(1) A person who has been ordered to pay fines or costs and who has not been arrested or brought into custody as described in subdivision (1)(a) of section 29-2412 but who believes himself or herself to be financially unable to pay such fines or costs may request a hearing to determine such person's financial ability to pay such fines or costs. The hearing shall be scheduled on the first regularly scheduled court date following the date of the request. Pending the hearing, the person shall not be arrested or brought into custody for failure to pay such fines or costs or failure to appear before a court or magistrate on the due date of such fines or costs.
(2) At the hearing, the person shall have the opportunity to present information as to his or her income, assets, debts, or other matters affecting his or her financial ability to pay. Following the hearing, the court or magistrate shall determine the person's financial ability to pay the fines or costs, including his or her financial ability to pay in installments as described in section 29-2206. (4) If the court or magistrate determines that the person is financially unable to pay the fines or costs, the court or magistrate: (a) Shall either: (i) Enter an order pursuant to subsection (5) of this section discharging the person of such fines or costs; or (ii) If the person is subject to an order to pay installments pursuant to section 29-2206, the court or magistrate shall either enter an order pursuant to subsection (5) of this section discharging the person of such obligation or make any necessary modifications to the order specifying the terms of the installment payments as justice may require and that will enable the person to pay the fines or costs; and (b) May order the person to complete community service for a specified number of hours pursuant to sections 29-2277 to 29-2279. |
All |
Not provided for |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | No |
Waive fines or costs; discharge person of installment order to pay fines or costs; make any necessary modifications to the order specifying the terms of the installment payments as justice may require and that will enable the person to pay the fines or costs; order the person to complete community service.
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2262(2)(o) | Probation; conditions |
(2) The court may, as a condition of a sentence of probation, require the offender: cost of such device or system if the offender has the financial ability;
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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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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2262.06(1),(4)-(6) | Fees; waiver; when; failure to pay; effect |
a one-time administrative enrollment fee and thereafter a monthly probation programming fee.
(4) The court shall waive payment of the monthly probation programming fees in whole or in part if after a hearing a determination is made that such payment would constitute an undue hardship on the offender due to limited income, employment or school status, or physical or mental handicap. Such waiver shall be in effect only during the period of time that the probationer or participant in a non-probation-based program or service is unable to pay his or her monthly probation programming fee. (5) If a probationer defaults in the payment of monthly probation programming fees or any installment thereof, the court may revoke his or her probation for nonpayment, except that probation shall not be revoked nor shall the offender be imprisoned for such nonpayment if the probationer is financially unable to make the payment, if he or she so states to the court in writing under oath, and if the court so finds after a hearing. (6) If the court determines that the default in payment described in subsection (5) of this section was not attributable to a deliberate refusal to obey the order of the court or to failure on the probationer's part to make a good faith effort to obtain the funds required for payment, the court may enter an order allowing the probationer additional time for payment, reducing the amount of each installment, or revoking the fees or the unpaid portion in whole or in part. |
All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | No |
Fee waiver; allowing the probationer additional time for payment; reducing the amount of each installment; revoking the fees or the unpaid portion in whole or in part |
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-3902 | Indigent defendant; right to counsel |
At a felony defendant's first appearance before a court, the court shall advise him or her of the right to court-appointed counsel if he or she is indigent. If he or she asserts indigency, the court shall make a reasonable inquiry to determine his or her financial condition and may require him or her to execute an affidavit of indigency. If the court determines him or her to be indigent, it shall formally appoint the public defender to represent him or her in all proceedings before the court and shall make a notation of such appointment and appearances of the public defender upon the felony complaint. The same procedure shall be followed by the court in misdemeanor cases punishable by imprisonment.
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All |
Indigent |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Formally appoint the public defender to represent him or her in all proceedings before the court |
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-3906 | Misdemeanor defendant; indigent; counties with no public defender; court-appointed counsel; compensation |
In counties not having public defenders, the court may appoint an attorney licensed to practice law in this state to represent any indigent person who is charged with a misdemeanor offense punishable by imprisonment. When such a defendant asserts indigency, the court shall make a reasonable inquiry to determine the defendant's financial condition and may require him or her to execute an affidavit of indigency. Attorneys appointed pursuant to this section shall be compensated in the manner provided by section 29-3905 with application being made to the appointing court.
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All |
Indigent |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Court appoints an attorney licensed to practice law in this state to represent any indigent person who is charged with a misdemeanor offense punishable by imprisonment |
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-4121 | DNA testing; costs |
The cost of DNA testing ordered under subsection (5) of section 29-4120 shall be paid by the person filing the motion, unless the court determines such person to be indigent. If the person filing such motion is determined by the court to be indigent, the costs shall be paid by the state in the following manner:
(1) If the Commission on Public Advocacy has been appointed to represent the person filing the motion, as determined under section 29-4122, the costs of testing shall be paid by the commission from funds appropriated by the Legislature; and (2) If the Commission on Public Advocacy has not been appointed to represent the person filing the motion, the court shall hold a hearing to determine the costs for DNA testing. The court shall order the commission to pay such costs. The order shall be forwarded by the clerk of the court to the commission, along with copies of all invoices for such DNA testing. Upon receipt, the commission shall pay such costs from funds appropriated by the Legislature. |
All |
Indigent |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Costs paid by the state. |
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Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-718(3) | Child protection cases; central registry; name-change order; treatment; fee; waiver |
The department may charge a reasonable fee in an amount established by the department in rules and regulations to recover expenses in carrying out central registry records checks. The fee shall not exceed three dollars for each request to check the records of the central registry. The department shall remit the fees to the State Treasurer for credit to the Health and Human Services Cash Fund. The department may waive the fee if the requesting party shows the fee would be an undue financial hardship. The department shall use the fees to defray costs incurred to carry out such records checks. The department may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out this section.
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All |
Undue financial hardship |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Administrative decision | No |
Fee waiver |
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New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 631:2-b(V) | Domestic Violence |
In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, the court shall levy a fine of $50 for each conviction under this section. The court shall not reduce or suspend any sentence or the payment of any fine imposed under this section. If the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay the fine on the date imposed, the court may defer payment or order periodic payments thereof. Fines imposed under this section shall not be subject to an additional penalty assessment and shall not be subject to the provisions of RSA 618:8 or 618:9. The clerk shall forward all fines collected under this paragraph to the department of health and human services for the purposes of RSA 173-B:15.
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Defer payment or order periodic payments. |
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New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 504-A:13(I) | Supervision and Service Charges |
The court shall establish a supervision fee for probationers, and the parole board shall establish a supervision fee for parolees. The fee shall not be less than $40 a month, unless waived in whole or in part by the court, board or commissioner, and may be any greater amount as established by the court or board. This fee shall be considered a condition of release, and failure to satisfy this obligation shall be grounds for a violation hearing, unless the probationer or parolee has been found to be indigent and, for that reason, unable to pay the fee.
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All |
Indigent |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
Parole/probation not revoked for nonpayment. |
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New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 632-A:3(V)(b) | Felonious Sexual Assault |
In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, the court shall levy a fine of $50 for each conviction recorded as “felonious sexual assault-domestic violence” under this paragraph. The court shall not reduce or suspend any sentence or the payment of any fine imposed under this paragraph and no fine imposed under this paragraph shall be subject to an additional penalty assessment. If the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay the fine on the date imposed, the court may defer payment or order periodic payments thereof.
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Defer payment or order periodic payments. |
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New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 631:2(III)(b) | Second Degree Assault |
In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, the court shall levy a fine of $50 for each conviction recorded as “second degree assault-domestic violence” under this paragraph. The court shall not reduce or suspend any sentence or the payment of any fine imposed under this paragraph and no fine imposed under this paragraph shall be subject to an additional penalty assessment. If the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay the fine on the date imposed, the court may defer payment or order periodic payments thereof.
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Defer payment or order periodic payments. |
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New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 633:1(III)(b) | Kidnapping |
In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, the court shall levy a fine of $50 for each conviction recorded as “kidnapping-domestic violence” under this paragraph. The court shall not reduce or suspend any sentence or the payment of any fine imposed under this paragraph and no fine imposed under this paragraph shall be subject to an additional penalty assessment. If the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay the fine on the date imposed, the court may defer payment or order periodic payments thereof.
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All | Not provided for | Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Defer payment or order periodic payments. |
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New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 631:3(IV)(b) | Reckless Conduct |
In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, the court shall levy a fine of $50 for each conviction recorded as “reckless conduct-domestic violence” under this paragraph. The court shall not reduce or suspend any sentence or the payment of any fine imposed under this paragraph and no fine imposed under this paragraph shall be subject to an additional penalty assessment. If the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay the fine on the date imposed, the court may defer payment or order periodic payments thereof.
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Defer payment or order periodic payments. |
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New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann § 632-A:2(V)(b) | Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault |
In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, the court shall levy a fine of $50 for each conviction recorded as “aggravated felonious sexual assault-domestic violence” under this paragraph. The court shall not reduce or suspend any sentence or the payment of any fine imposed under this paragraph and no fine imposed under this paragraph shall be subject to an additional penalty assessment. If the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay the fine on the date imposed, the court may defer payment or order periodic payments thereof.
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Defer payment or order periodic payments |
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New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 632-A:4(IV)(b) | Sexual Assault |
In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, the court shall levy a fine of $50 for each conviction recorded as “sexual assault-domestic violence” under this paragraph. The court shall not reduce or suspend any sentence or the payment of any fine imposed under this paragraph and no fine imposed under this paragraph shall be subject to an additional penalty assessment. If the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay the fine on the date imposed, the court may defer payment or order periodic payments thereof.
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Defer payment or order periodic payments. |
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New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 633:3(VIII)(b) | Stalking |
In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, the court shall levy a fine of $50 for each conviction recorded as “stalking-domestic violence” under this paragraph. The court shall not reduce or suspend any sentence or the payment of any fine imposed under this paragraph and no fine imposed under this paragraph shall be subject to an additional penalty assessment. If the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay the fine on the date imposed, the court may defer payment or order periodic payments thereof.
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
Defer payment or order periodic payments.
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New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 651:2(V)(h) | Sentences and Limitations |
In cases of a person convicted of a felony or class A misdemeanor, a court may require such person to be screened and/or evaluated for risk of substance use disorders at an impaired driver care management program (IDCMP) approved by the department of health and human services, and to comply with the treatment plan developed by the IDCMP as established under RSA 265-A:40, if the evidence demonstrates that substances were a contributing factor in the commission of the offense and if such person has the ability to pay the fees for the program in full.
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All |
Not provided for |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge without hearing | No |
N/A |
The Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder is a project of the National Criminal Justice Debt Initiative of the Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard Law School in collaboration with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University and with user experience design by metaLAB (at) Harvard.
For more information, please visit cjpp.law.harvard.edu.