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Poverty Penalties and Poverty Traps
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Level of Offense
Below are the poverty penalties and poverty traps that meet your search criteria. Many include a See related provisions prompt which searches our database for laws that may pertain to your result.
29 Results
| State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | Type of poverty penalty or poverty trap | Level of offense | Mandatory | |
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Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 532.033(8) | Order of restitution |
When a judge orders restitution, the judge shall: (8) Not release the defendant from probation supervision until restitution has been paid in full and all other aspects of the probation order have been successfully completed.
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Condition or extension of supervision | All | Yes |
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Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 532.162(2) | Order as lien upon earnings; circuit clerk to disburse; fee |
(2) The circuit clerk's office shall disburse all collected reimbursement, restitution, and fees to the victim, the Kentucky Claims Commission, or the local government, whichever is appropriate. The clerk shall be entitled to collect a fee of two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) from each account for which a disbursement is made at the time of disbursement. In the event of challenge to a garnishment, the appropriate clerk's office shall not disburse those sums associated with the challenged garnishment until determination by the sentencing court regarding the propriety of the garnishment.
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Increased fine | All | No |
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Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 532.356(1)(a) | Reimbursement and restitution as additional sanctions; ineligibility to operate motor vehicle upon conviction of certain theft, fraud, and organized crime offenses |
(1) Upon a person's conviction and sentencing for any nonstatus juvenile offense, moving traffic violation, criminal violation, misdemeanor, or Class D felony offense, and, for the purposes of paragraph (b) of this subsection, any Class C felony offense listed in subsection (3) of this section, the court shall impose the following sanctions in addition to any imprisonment, fine, court cost, or community service:
(a) Reimbursement to the state or local government for the person's incarceration, determined by the per person, per diem, expenses of each prisoner incarcerated by the respective local government, times the number of days he has spent or shall spend in confinement, plus any medical services received by the prisoner, less copayments paid by the prisoner. The convicted person's ability to pay all or part of the reimbursement shall be considered by the sentencing court in imposing the sanction |
Increased fine | All | No |
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Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 99-37-5(2) | Payment and orders |
(2) When a defendant sentenced to pay a fine or costs or ordered to make restitution is also placed on probation or imposition or execution of sentence is suspended, the + See morecourt may make payment of the fine or costs or the making of restitution a condition of probation or suspension of sentence. Such offenders shall make restitution payments directly to the victim. As an alternative to a contempt proceeding under Sections 99-37-7 through 99-37-13, the intentional refusal to obey the restitution order or a failure by a defendant to make a good faith effort to make such restitution may be considered a violation of the defendant's probation and may be cause for revocation of his probation or suspension of sentence.
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Condition or extension of supervision | All | No |
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Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 4137 | Contempt powers of Magisterial District Judges |
(a) General rule.-- A magisterial district judge shall have the power to issue attachments and impose summary punishments for criminal contempts of a magisterial district judge court in the + See morefollowing cases:(1) Misbehavior of any person in the presence of the court, thereby obstructing the administration of justice.
(2) Failure of a person to obey lawful process in the nature of a subpoena issued by a magisterial district judge.
(3) Failure to comply with an order of a magisterial district judge directing a defendant in a criminal proceeding to compensate the victim of the criminal conduct for the damage or injury sustained by the victim.
(4) Failure to comply with an order of a magisterial district judge directing a defendant in a criminal proceeding to pay fines and costs in accordance with an installment payment order.
(5) Violation of an order issued pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110 (relating to emergency relief by minor judiciary).
(c) Punishment - Punishment for contempt specified in subsection (a)(1) or (3) may be a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both. Punishment for contempt specified in subsection (a)(2) shall be a fine of not more than $100. Failure to pay within a reasonable time could result in imprisonment for not more than ten days. Punishment for contempt specified in subsection (a)(5) shall be in accordance with that specified in 23 Pa.C.S. § 6114(b) (relating to contempt for violation of order or agreement). Punishment for contempt in subsection (a)(4) would be imprisonment for not more than 90 days.
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Increased fine | All | No |
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Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 4139 | Contempt powers of Traffic Court of Philadelphia |
(a) General rule.— The Traffic Court of Philadelphia shall have the power to issue attachments and impose summary punishments for criminal contempts in the following cases:(1) Misbehavior of any person + See morein the presence of the court thereby obstructing the administration of justice.
(2) Failure of a person to obey lawful process in the nature of a subpoena issued by a traffic court judge.
(3) Failure to comply with an order of a traffic court judge directing a defendant in a criminal proceeding to pay fines and costs in accordance with an installment payment order.
(c) Punishment.— Punishment for contempt specified in subsection (a)(1) or (3) may be a fine of not more than $100 or to imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both. Punishment for contempt specified in subsection (a)(2) shall be a fine of not more than $100. Failure to pay within a reasonable time could result in imprisonment for not more than ten days.
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Increased fine | Traffic | No |
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Texas | Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 42A.752(a)-(b) | Continuation or Modification of Community Supervision After Violation |
(a) If after a hearing under Article 42A.751(d) a judge continues or modifies community supervision after determining that the defendant violated a condition of community supervision, the judge may impose any other conditions the judge determines are appropriate, including: (1) a requirement that the defendant perform community service for a number of hours specified by the court under Article 42A.304, or an increase in the number of hours that the defendant has previously been required to perform under that article in an amount not to exceed double the number of hours permitted by that article; (2) an extension of the period of community supervision, in the manner described by Article 42A.753; (3) an increase in the defendant’s fine, in the manner described by Subsection (b); or (4) the placement of the defendant in a substance abuse felony punishment program operated under Section 493.009, Government Code . . .
(b) A judge may impose a sanction on a defendant described by Subsection (a)(3) by increasing the fine imposed on the defendant. The original fine imposed on the defendant and an increase in the fine imposed under this subsection may not exceed the maximum fine for the offense for which the defendant was sentenced. The judge shall deposit money received from an increase in the defendant’s fine under this subsection in the special fund of the county treasury to be used for the same purposes for which state aid may be used under Chapter 76, Government Code. |
Community service, Extension of probation/supervision, Increased fine | All | No |
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Texas | Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 133.103(a) | Time Payment fee |
A person convicted of an offense shall pay, in addition to all other costs, a fee of $25 if the person:(1) has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor; and (2) pays any part of a fine, court costs, or restitution on or after the 31st day after the date on which a judgment is entered assessing the fine, court costs, or restitution.
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Increased fine | All | Yes |
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Texas | Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 102.072 | Administrative Fee |
An officer listed in Article 103.003 or a community supervision and corrections department may assess an administrative fee for each transaction made by the officer or department relating to the collection of fines, fees, restitution, or other costs imposed by a court. The fee may not exceed $2 for each transaction.
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Increased fine | All | No |
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Texas | Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 42A.751(a)(8)-(9) | Basic Discretionary Conditions |
The judge of the court having jurisdiction of the case shall determine the conditions of community supervision. The judge may impose any reasonable condition that is designed to protect or restore the community, protect or restore the victim, or punish, rehabilitate, or reform the defendant. Conditions of community supervision may include conditions requiring the defendant to:
(8) pay in one or more amounts: (A) the defendant’s fine, if one is assessed; and (B) all court costs, regardless of whether a fine is assessed; (9) support the defendant’s dependents |
Condition or extension of supervision | All | No |
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Texas | Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 42A.652(b) | Monthly Reimbursement Fee |
The judge may make payment of the monthly fee a condition of granting or continuing the community supervision. |
Condition or extension of supervision | All | No |
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Texas | Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 42A.702(a)(2)-(3),(b)-(c) | Time Credits for Completion of Certain Conditions of Community Supervision |
(a) This article [time credit] applies only to a defendant who: (2) is not delinquent in paying required costs, fines, or fees; and (3) has fully satisfied any order to pay restitution to a victim.
(b) A defendant described by Subsection (a) is entitled to receive any combination of time credits toward the completion of the defendant’s period of community supervision in accordance with this article if the court ordered the defendant as a condition of community supervision to: (1) make a payment described by Subsection (c); (2) complete a treatment or rehabilitation program described by Subsection (d); or (3) earn a diploma, certificate, or degree described by Subsection (e). (c) A defendant is entitled to time credits toward the completion of the defendant’s period of community supervision for the full payment of court costs, fines, attorney’s fees, and restitution. |
Condition or extension of supervision | All | No |
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Texas | Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 42A.701(b) | Reduction or Termination of Community Supervision Period |
On completion of one-half of the original community supervision period or two years of community supervision, whichever is more, the judge shall review the defendant's record and consider whether to reduce or terminate the period of community supervision, unless the defendant:(1) is delinquent in paying required costs, fines, fees, or restitution that the defendant has the ability to pay.
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Condition or extension of supervision | All | No |
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Texas | Tex. Gov't Code Sec. 21.002(a)-(c) | Contempt of Court |
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (g), a court may punish for contempt. (b) The punishment for contempt of a court other than a justice court or municipal court is a fine of not more than $500 or confinement in the county jail for not more than six months, or both such a fine and confinement in jail.
(c) The punishment for contempt of a justice court or municipal court is a fine of not more than $100 or confinement in the county or city jail for not more than three days, or both such a fine and confinement in jail. |
Incarceration, Increased fine | All | No |
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Texas | Tex. Gov't. Code § 76.015(c) | Reimbursement Fee |
(c) A department may assess a reasonable reimbursement fee of not less than $25 and not more than $60 per month on an individual who participates in a program operated by the department or receives services from the department and who is not paying a monthly reimbursement fee under Article 42A.652, Code of Criminal Procedure.
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Condition or extension of supervision | All | No |
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Texas | Tex. Gov't. Code § 76.017(e) | Treatment Alternative to Incarceration Program |
(e) A department may contract for the provision of treatment services. The department may pay for services only if other adequate public or private sources of payment are not available. A person is responsible for the payment of any treatment program recommended under this section if it is determined that a person referred for treatment is able to pay for the costs of treatment or if the person has insurance that will pay for the treatment. If a person is able to pay for treatment or if the person has insurance that will pay for the treatment, the payment may be made a condition for receiving treatment.
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Condition or extension of supervision | All | No |
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Texas | Tex. Gov't. Code § 103.021 | Additional Fees and Costs in Criminal or Civil Cases: Code of Criminal Procedure |
An accused or defendant, or a party to a civil suit, as applicable, shall pay the following fees and costs under the Code of Criminal Procedure if ordered by the court or otherwise required:
(2) cost of electronic monitoring as a condition of release on personal bond (Art. 17.43, Code of Criminal Procedure) ... actual cost; (3-a) costs associated with operating a global positioning monitoring system as a condition of release on bond (Art. 17.49(b)(2), Code of Criminal Procedure) ... actual costs, subject to a determination of indigency; (5) reimbursement to general revenue fund for payments made to victim of an offense as condition of community supervision (Art. 42A.301(17), Code of Criminal Procedure) ... not to exceed $50 for a misdemeanor offense or $100 for a felony offense; (10) additional community supervision fee for certain offenses (Art. 42A.653(a), Code of Criminal Procedure) ... $5 per month; |
Condition or extension of supervision | All | No |
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Texas | Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 17.43(b) | Home curfew and electronic monitoring as condition |
(b) Cost of monitoring may be assessed as reimbursement fees or ordered paid directly by the defendant as a condition of bond. |
Condition or extension of supervision | All | No |
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Texas | Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 17.44(c),(e) | Home confinement, electronic monitoring, and drug testing as condition |
(c) The magistrate may revoke the bond and order the defendant arrested if the defendant: (1) violates a condition of home confinement and electronic monitoring; (3) fails to pay the reimbursement fee for monitoring or testing for controlled substances, if payment is ordered under Subsection (e) as a condition of bond and the magistrate determines that the defendant is not indigent and is financially able to make the payments as ordered.
(e) The cost of electronic monitoring or testing for controlled substances under this article may be assessed as a reimbursement fee or ordered paid directly by the defendant as a condition of bond. |
Condition or extension of supervision | All | No |
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Texas | Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 17.441(d) | Conditions requiring motor vehicle ignition interlock |
(d) The magistrate may designate an appropriate agency to verify the installation of the device and to monitor the device. If the magistrate designates an agency under this subsection, in each month during which the agency verifies the installation of the device or provides a monitoring service the defendant shall pay a fee to the designated agency in the amount set by the magistrate. The defendant shall pay the initial fee at the time the agency verifies the installation of the device. In each subsequent month during which the defendant is required to pay a fee the defendant shall pay the fee on the first occasion in that month that the agency provides a monitoring service. The magistrate shall set the fee in an amount not to exceed $10 as determined by the county auditor, or by the commissioners court of the county if the county does not have a county auditor, to be sufficient to cover the cost incurred by the designated agency in conducting the verification or providing the monitoring service, as applicable in that county.
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Condition or extension of supervision | All | No |
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