Poverty Penalties and Poverty Traps

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State Statute Description/Statute Name Statutory language Type of poverty penalty or poverty trap Level of offense Mandatory
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Alaska Alaska Stat. Ann. § 12.55.025(f) Sentencing Procedures

A sentence that the defendant pay money, either as a fine or in restitution or both, constitutes a lien in the same manner as a judgment for money entered in

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a civil action. Nothing in this section limits the authority of the court to otherwise enforce payment of a fine or restitution.

Property liens All Yes
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Alabama Ala.Code 1975 § 15-18-62 Costs and Fines: willful nonpayment by defendant

In cases of willful nonpayment of the fine and costs, the defendant shall either be imprisoned in the county jail or, at the discretion of the court, sentenced to hard

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labor for the county as follows:(1) If the fine and costs do not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250), no more than 10 days; (2) If the fine and costs exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) but do not exceed five hundred dollars ($500), no more than 20 days; (3) If the fine and costs exceed five hundred dollars ($500), but do not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), no more than 30 days; and (4) For every additional one hundred dollars ($100) or fractional part thereof, 4 days.

Incarceration All Yes
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Alabama Ala.Code 1975 § 12-23-7 Drug testing program

Any person who fails to complete treatment and pay for it shall be charged with violation of probation or parole

Condition or extension of supervision All Yes
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Alabama Ala.Code 1975 § 12-19-311(c) Additional fees on bail bond

Upon the failure to pay the fee in paragraph a. of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) and upon a finding of contempt in subsection (d), the bondsman, surety, guaranty, or

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individuals required to pay the fee shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) in addition to the fee imposed in paragraph a. of subdivision (1) of subsection (a). The fine shall not be remitted, waived, or reduced unless the person(s) fined can show cause to the court that he or she cannot pay the fine in the reasonably foreseeable future. I

Increased fine All Yes
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Alaska AK Const. Art. 1, § 17 Imprisonment for Debt

There shall be no imprisonment for debt. This section does not prohibit civil arrest of absconding debtors.

Incarceration All Yes
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Alaska Alaska Stat. Ann. § 12.55.041(d) Correctional Facility Surcharge

The court shall include a surcharge imposed under (a) of this section in the judgment of conviction. The court shall include the imposition of a surcharge under (c) of this

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section in the order revoking probation. For a surcharge that is not paid by the person as required by this section, the state shall seek reimbursement from the person's permanent fund dividend as provided under AS 43.23.065. For purposes of collection and priority of attachment under AS 43.23.065, a surcharge imposed under this section is accounted for in the same manner as a cost of imprisonment under AS 28.35.030(k) and 28.35.032(o). The state may enforce payment of a surcharge under this section under AS 09.35 as if it were a civil judgment enforceable by execution. This subsection does not limit the authority of the court to enforce surcharges.

Property liens All Yes
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Alaska Alaska Stat. Ann. § 12.55.045(l) Restitution and Compensation

An order by the court that the defendant pay restitution is a civil judgment for the amount of the restitution. An order by the court that the defendant pay restitution

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when the court suspends imposition of sentence under AS 12.55.085 is a civil judgment for the amount of the restitution and remains enforceable and is not discharged when a conviction is set aside under AS 12.55.085. The victim or the state on behalf of the victim may enforce the judgment through any procedure authorized by law for the enforcement of a civil judgment. If the victim enforces or collects restitution through civil process, collection costs and full reasonable attorney fees shall be awarded. If the state on the victim's behalf enforces or collects restitution through civil process, collection costs and full reasonable attorney fees shall be awarded, up to a maximum of twice the amount of restitution owing at the time the civil process was initiated. This section does not limit the authority of the court to enforce orders of restitution.

Civil judgment All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §775.0844(8)(b) White Collar Crime Victim Protection Act

The court retains jurisdiction to enforce its order to pay fines or restitution. The court may initiate proceedings against a defendant for a violation of probation or for contempt of

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court if the defendant willfully fails to comply with a lawful order of the court.

Condition or extension of supervision Felony Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §775.0844(8)(a) White Collar Crime Victim Protection Act

The court shall make the payment of restitution a condition of any probation granted to the defendant by the court. Notwithstanding any other law, the court may order continued probation

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for a defendant convicted under this section for up to 10 years or until full restitution is made to the victim, whichever occurs earlier.

Condition or extension of supervision Felony Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §948.09(6) Payment for cost of supervision and other monetary obligations

The department shall establish a payment plan for all costs ordered by the courts for collection by the department and a priority order for payments, except that victim restitution payments

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authorized under s. 948.03(1)(f) take precedence over all other court-ordered payments. The department is not required to disburse cumulative amounts of less than $10 to individual payees established on this payment plan.

Payment plan/installment plan All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §948.06(5) Violation of probation or community control; revocation; modification; continuance; failure to pay restitution or cost of supervision

In any hearing in which the failure of a probationer or offender in community control to pay restitution or the cost of supervision as provided in s. 948.09, as directed,

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is established by the state, if the probationer or offender asserts his or her inability to pay restitution or the cost of supervision, it is incumbent upon the probationer or offender to prove by clear and convincing evidence that he or she does not have the present resources available to pay restitution or the cost of supervision despite sufficient bona fide efforts legally to acquire the resources to do so. If the probationer or offender cannot pay restitution or the cost of supervision despite sufficient bona fide efforts, the court shall consider alternate measures of punishment other than imprisonment. Only if alternate measures are not adequate to meet the state's interests in punishment and deterrence may the court imprison a probationer or offender in community control who has demonstrated sufficient bona fide efforts to pay restitution or the cost of supervision.

Incarceration All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §985.039(7) Cost of supervision; cost of care

With respect to a child who has been placed under the supervision or care of the department and whose parent receives public assistance for any portion of such child's care,

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the department must seek a federal waiver to garnish or otherwise order the payment of a portion of the public assistance relating to such child, in an amount not to exceed the amount of the parent's obligation, in order to offset the costs to the department associated with providing supervision or care of such child.

Wage/bank account garnishment All Yes
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Florida Fla. Adm. Code §33-203.201(10) Inmate Trust Fund

(10) Any cost judgment or other monetary judgment, order, or sanction imposed against an inmate as described in subsection (9) above, shall be paid by offsetting the amount of the

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judgment or monetary order or sanction against the inmate's funds in his Inmate Trust Fund account in the following manner:

(a) The attorney representing the state in such civil or criminal action or appeal shall file with the Office of the General Counsel, Department of Corrections, 501 South Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500, a true copy of the judgment or other monetary order or sanction which has been entered by the appropriate court, together with a cover letter stating the date and amount of the judgment, monetary order, or sanction, or the balance remaining if less than the face amount thereof, as well as the attorney's name, address and telephone number. The attorney shall also certify in the letter that: 1. He has been employed by the State to handle such action; 2. The enclosed copy of the judgment or other monetary order or sanction is a true and accurate copy thereof as actually entered by the court; 3. The judgment or relevant order is final; and 4. A copy of the letter, together with a copy of the judgment or relevant order has been furnished to the inmate at his last known address as indicated in the attorney's records.

(b) Upon receipt of the above documents, the Office of the General Counsel shall determine if the inmate is still in the custody of the Department. If the inmate is not in the custody of the Department, the Office of the General Counsel shall advise the attorney of that fact and, if known, advise the attorney of the last known forwarding address of the inmate. If the inmate is in the custody of the Department, the Office of the General Counsel shall forward the letter and a copy of the judgment or relevant order to the Bureau of Finance and Accounting, Inmate Trust Fund Section.

(c) Once the Bureau of Finance and Accounting, Inmate Trust Fund Section, receives the letter and a copy of the judgment or relevant order, a hold shall immediately be placed on the inmate's account. The inmate shall be promptly advised of the hold and that the reason therefore is an unsatisfied judgment or other monetary order or sanction. A copy of the attorney’s letter or the letter from the probation and parole field office and a copy of the judgment or relevant order will be given to the inmate upon his request.

(d) If there are sufficient funds in the inmate’s account to satisfy the amount shown as due or the remaining balance as stated by the attorney, the appropriate officer shall promptly cause a check to be issued payable to the State of Florida” and shall return the check to the attorney. The check shall be drawn and credited against funds in the inmate's account. At such time, the hold shall be released on the inmate's account. It shall be the attorney's responsibility to see that the check is forwarded to the appropriate state agency or entity.

(e) If there are insufficient funds in the inmate's account to satisfy the amount shown as due or the balance remaining as stated by the attorney, a check shall be issued payable to the State of Florida for the amount contained in the inmate's account. Each time that the inmate receives funds in his account, payment shall be disbursed to the State of Florida until the debt is satisfied. The hold shall remain on the inmate's account until sufficient funds have been paid to satisfy the amount shown as due or the balance remaining thereon. If the inmate is released from the custody of the Department before he has paid the full amount of the judgment, upon his release, a notice shall be sent to the attorney or probation and parole office advising the attorney or office of the inmate’s release, the inmate's last forwarding address, if known, and the fact that the inmate has not paid the full amount of the judgment. A copy of this notice shall be placed in the inmate's file.

Wage/bank account garnishment All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §947.181 Fines, fees, restitution, or other costs ordered to be paid as conditions of parole

(1) The commission shall require the payment of fines, fees, restitution, or other court-ordered costs as a condition of parole unless the commission finds reasons to the contrary. Restitution to

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the aggrieved party for injury, damage, or loss caused by the offense for which the parolee was imprisoned shall have first priority in the payment of amounts owed under this section. If the commission does not require the payment of fines, fees, restitution, or other court-ordered costs or requires only partial payment of the fines, fees, restitution, or other court-ordered costs, the commission shall state on the record the reasons for its decision.

(2) If the parolee fails to make the payments as required in subsection (1), it shall be considered by the commission as a violation of parole as specified in s. 947.21 and may be cause for revocation of parole.

(3) If a defendant is paroled, any restitution ordered under s. 775.089 shall be a condition of such parole. The Florida Commission on Offender Review may revoke parole if the defendant fails to comply with such order.

(4) In determining whether to revoke parole, the commission shall consider the defendant’s employment status, earning ability, and 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.

Condition or extension of supervision All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §946.002(2) Requirement of labor; compensation; amount; crediting of account of prisoner; forfeiture; civil rights; prisoner not employee or entitled to compensation insurance benefits

(2)(a) Each prisoner who is engaged in productive work in any state correctional institution, program, or facility under the jurisdiction of the department may receive for work performed such compensation

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as the department shall determine. Such compensation shall be in accordance with a schedule based on quality and quantity of work performed and skill required for performance, and said compensation shall be credited to the account of the prisoner or the prisoner’s family.

(b) Any monetary payments made directly to the prisoner shall be used in whole or in part to satisfy restitution ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction to the victim of the criminal act.

(c) It shall be the policy of the department to require inmates receiving compensation for work performed in community programs to reimburse the state for lodging, food, transportation, and other expenses incurred for sustaining the inmate. Reimbursement shall be according to rules promulgated by the department, which shall provide that the inmate retain only a minimal amount of money for personal items and shall take into consideration compensation that may be allocated for the support of the inmate’s family and for restitution for the victim of the crime committed.

Wage/bank account garnishment All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. Ann. § 322.245(1) Suspension of license upon failure of person charged with specified offense

(1) If a person charged with a violation of any of the criminal offenses enumerated in s. 318.17 or with the commission of any offense constituting a misdemeanor under chapter

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320 or this chapter fails to comply with all of the directives of the court within the time allotted by the court, the clerk of the traffic court shall mail to the person, at the address specified on the uniform traffic citation, a notice of such failure, notifying him or her that, if he or she does not comply with the directives of the court within 30 days after the date of the notice and pay a delinquency fee of up to $25 to the clerk, from which the clerk shall remit $10 to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, his or her driver license will be suspended. The notice shall be mailed no later than 5 days after such failure. The delinquency fee may be retained by the office of the clerk to defray the operating costs of the office.

Driver's license suspension/impoundment All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. Ann. § 322.245(1) Suspension of license upon failure of person charged with specified offense

(1) If a person charged with a violation of any of the criminal offenses enumerated in s. 318.17 or with the commission of any offense constituting a misdemeanor under chapter

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320 or this chapter fails to comply with all of the directives of the court within the time allotted by the court, the clerk of the traffic court shall mail to the person, at the address specified on the uniform traffic citation, a notice of such failure, notifying him or her that, if he or she does not comply with the directives of the court within 30 days after the date of the notice and pay a delinquency fee of up to $25 to the clerk, from which the clerk shall remit $10 to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, his or her driver license will be suspended. The notice shall be mailed no later than 5 days after such failure. The delinquency fee may be retained by the office of the clerk to defray the operating costs of the office.

Collection fee/interest All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §322.245(2) Suspension of license upon failure of person charged with specified offense

(2) In non-IV-D cases, if a person fails to pay child support under chapter 61 and the obligee so requests, the depository or the clerk of the court shall mail in

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accordance with s. 61.13016 the notice specified in that section, notifying him or her that if he or she does not comply with the requirements of that section and pay a delinquency fee of $25 to the depository or the clerk, his or her driver license and motor vehicle registration will be suspended. The delinquency fee may be retained by the depository or the office of the clerk to defray the operating costs of the office after the clerk remits $15 to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the General Revenue Fund.

Driver's license suspension/impoundment All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §775.089(1)(a) Restitution

In addition to any punishment, the court shall order the defendant to make restitution to the victim for: 1. Damage or loss caused directly or indirectly by the defendant’s offense;

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and 2. Damage or loss related to the defendant’s criminal episode, unless it finds clear and compelling reasons not to order such restitution. Restitution may be monetary or nonmonetary restitution. The court shall make the payment of restitution a condition of probation in accordance with s. 948.03. An order requiring the defendant to make restitution to a victim does not remove or diminish the requirement that the court order payment to the Crimes Compensation Trust Fund pursuant to chapter 960. Payment of an award by the Crimes Compensation Trust Fund shall create an order of restitution to the Crimes Compensation Trust Fund, unless specifically waived in accordance with subparagraph (b)1.

Condition or extension of supervision All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §944.485 Subsistence fees with respect to certain prisoners; time of adoption; requirements

(1) In recognition of the fact that many prisoners in the correctional system have sources of income and assets outside of the correctional system, which may include bank accounts, inheritances, real

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estate, social security payments, veteran’s payments, and other types of financial resources, and in recognition of the fact that the daily subsistence cost of incarcerating prisoners in the correctional system is a great burden on the taxpayers of the state, each prisoner in the state correctional system, except those who have entered into an agreement under s. 947.135 prior to October 1, 1978: (a) Shall disclose all revenue or assets as a condition of parole or other release eligibility. (b) Shall pay from such income and assets, except where such income is exempt by state or federal law, all or a fair portion of the prisoner’s daily subsistence costs, based upon the inmate’s ability to pay, the liability or potential liability of the inmate to the victim or the guardian or the estate of the victim, and the needs of his or her dependents.

(2)(a) Any prisoner who is directed to pay all or a fair portion of daily subsistence costs is entitled to reasonable advance notice of the assessment and shall be afforded an opportunity to present reasons for opposition to the assessment. (b) An order directing payment of all or a fair portion of a prisoner’s daily subsistence costs may survive against the estate of the prisoner.

Wage/bank account garnishment All Yes