Poverty Penalties and Poverty Traps

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 poverty penalty and poverty trap policy recommendations in CJPP’s Policy Guide

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.

22 Results

Export results to Excel

State Statute Description/Statute Name Statutory language Type of poverty penalty or poverty trap Level of offense Mandatory
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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

+ See more
have been successfully completed.

Condition or extension of supervision All Yes
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Mississippi Miss. Code Ann. § 63-1-53 (1) Driver's license suspension
Upon failure of any person to respond timely and properly to a summons or citation charging such person with any violation of this title, or upon failure of any person
+ See more
to pay timely any fine, fee or assessment levied as a result of any violation of this title, the clerk of the court shall give written notice to such person by United States first-class mail at his last known address advising such person that, if within ten (10) days after such notice is deposited in the mail, the person has not properly responded to the summons or citation or has not paid the entire amount of all fines, fees and assessments levied, then the court will give notice thereof to the Commissioner of Public Safety and the commissioner may suspend the driver's license of such person.
Driver's license suspension/impoundment Traffic No
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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 more
court 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.
Condition or extension of supervision All No
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Mississippi Miss. Code. Ann. § 63-1-51 Grounds for revocation or suspension
It shall be the duty of the court clerk, upon conviction of any person holding a license issued pursuant to this article where the penalty for a traffic violation is
+ See more
as much as Ten Dollars ($10.00), to mail a copy of abstract of the court record or provide an electronically or computer generated copy of abstract of the court record immediately to the commissioner at Jackson, Mississippi, showing the date of conviction, penalty, etc., so that a record of same may be made by the Department of Public Safety. The commissioner shall forthwith revoke the license of any person for a period of one (1) year upon receiving a duly certified record of each person's convictions of any of the following offenses when such conviction has become final: . . . (f) Contempt for failure to pay a fine or fee or to respond to a summons or citation pursuant to a charge of a violation of this title.
Driver's license suspension/impoundment All Yes
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Pennsylvania Pa. R. Crim. P. 430(B)(4) Failure to respond to traffic citation
(4) that failure to respond to the citation as provided above within the time specified: (a) shall result in the issuance of
+ See more
a summons when a violation of an ordinance or any parking offense is charged, or when the defendant is under 18 years of age, and in all other cases shall result in the issuance of a warrant for the arrest of the defendant; and (b) shall result in the suspension of the defendant’s driver’s license when a violation of the Vehicle Code is charged;
Driver's license suspension/impoundment Traffic Yes
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Pennsylvania 75 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 1541 Period of disqualification, revocation or suspension of operating privilege
Continued suspension of operating privilege.--A defendant ordered by the court under section 3816 (relating to requirements for driving under influence offenders), as the result of a conviction or Accelerated Rehabilitative
+ See more
Disposition of a violation of section 3802 to attend a treatment program for alcohol or drug addiction must successfully complete all requirements of the treatment program ordered by the court before the defendant's operating privilege may be restored. Successful completion of a treatment program includes the payment of all court-imposed fines and costs, as well as fees to be paid to the treatment program by the defendant. For the purposes of restoring a suspended license, being current on a payment plan shall be considered as a part of a successfully completed program. If a defendant fails to successfully complete the requirements of a treatment program, the suspension shall remain in effect until the defendant completes the program and is otherwise eligible for restoration of his operating privilege. The treatment agency shall immediately notify the court of successful completion of the treatment program. The final decision as to whether a defendant has successfully completed the treatment program rests with the court.
Driver's license suspension/impoundment Traffic Yes
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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

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

+ Create New

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

+ Create New

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

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

+ Create New

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

+ See more
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.

Condition or extension of supervision All No
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Texas Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 706.002 Denial of renewal of driver's license

A political subdivision may contract with the department to provide information necessary for the department to deny renewal of the driver’s license of a person who fails to appear for

+ See more
a complaint or citation or fails to pay or satisfy a judgment ordering payment of a fine and cost in the manner ordered by the court in a matter involving any offense that a court has jurisdiction of under Chapter 4, Code of Criminal Procedure.

Driver's license suspension/impoundment All No
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Texas Tex. Transp. Code Sec. 702.003(a) Traffic violation - denial of motorvehicle registration

A county assessor-collector or the department may refuse to register a motor vehicle if the assessor-collector or the department receives under a contract information from a municipality that the owner

+ See more
of the vehicle has an outstanding warrant from that municipality for failure to appear or failure to pay a fine on a complaint that involves the violation of a traffic law.

Driver's license suspension/impoundment Traffic No
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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

+ See more
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.

Condition or extension of supervision All No
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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.

+ See more
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.

Condition or extension of supervision All No
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

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

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

+ Create New

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

+ Create New

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

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

+ Create New

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

+ See more
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.

Condition or extension of supervision All No
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Texas Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 42.035(c),(e) Electronic monitoring; house arrest

(c) The court may require the defendant to pay to the community supervision and corrections department or the county any reasonable cost incurred because of the defendant's participation in the

+ See more
house arrest program, including the cost of electronic monitoring.
(e) A court may revoke a defendant's participation in an electronic monitoring program and require the defendant to serve the remainder of the defendant's sentence of confinement in county jail if the defendant violates a condition imposed by a court under this article, including a condition requiring the defendant to pay for participating in the program under Subsection (c).

Condition or extension of supervision All No
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Texas Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 42A.651(a) Payment as Condition of Community Supervision

(a) A judge may not order a defendant to make a payment as a term or condition of community supervision, except for:
(1) the payment of fines, court costs, or

+ See more
restitution to the victim;
(2) reimbursement of a county as described by Article 42A.301(b)(11) ; or
(3) a payment ordered as a condition that relates personally to the rehabilitation of the defendant or that is otherwise expressly authorized by law.

Condition or extension of supervision All No