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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.
62 Results
State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | Type of poverty penalty or poverty trap | Level of offense | Mandatory | |
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Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 9758 | Fine- installment plan |
Except for fines imposed under Title 34 (relating to game), the court may permit installment payments as it considers appropriate to the circumstances of the defendant, in which case its + See moreorder shall specify when each installment payment is due. Installment payments for fines imposed for summary offenses under Title 34 shall not exceed one year for summary offenses and, except for 34 Pa.C.S. § 2522 (relating to shooting at or causing injury to human beings), shall not exceed two years for misdemeanor offenses.
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Payment plan/installment plan | All | No |
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Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 9728(a) | Collection - interest |
Except as provided in subsection (b)(5), all restitution, reparation, fees, costs, fines and penalties shall be collected by the county probation department or other agent designated by the county commissioners + See moreof the county with the approval of the president judge of the county for that purpose in any manner provided by law. However, such restitution, reparation, fees, costs, fines and penalties are part of a criminal action or proceeding and shall not be deemed debts. A sentence, pretrial disposition order or order entered under section 6352 (relating to disposition of delinquent child) for restitution, reparation, fees, costs, fines or penalties shall, together with interest and any additional costs that may accrue, be a judgment in favor of the probation department upon the person or the property of the person sentenced or subject to the order.
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Collection fee/interest | All | No |
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Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 9728(b)(5) | Collection - procedure |
The county correctional facility to which the offender has been sentenced or the Department of Corrections shall be authorized to make monetary deductions from inmate personal accounts for the purpose + See moreof collecting restitution or any other court-ordered obligation or costs imposed
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Wage/bank account garnishment | All | No |
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Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 9728(e)(1) | Preservation of assets - restitution |
Upon the filing of a criminal complaint, information or indictment charging a criminal violation or a petition alleging delinquency for which restitution may be ordered and alleging that the property + See morewith respect to which the order is sought appears to be necessary to satisfy such restitution order and judgment
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Property liens | All | No |
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Pennsylvania | Pa. R. Crim. P. 142 | Defaults in Payment of Fine Imposed as Punishment for Contempt |
(A) If a contemnor defaults on the payment of a fine imposed as punishment for contempt pursuant to Rule 140(A)(1) and (B)(3), the issuing authority shall notify the contemnor + See morein person or by first class mail that within 10 days of the date on the default notice the contemnor must either:
(1) pay the amount due as ordered, or
(2) appear before the issuing authority to explain why the contemnor should not be imprisoned for nonpayment as provided by law, or a bench warrant for the contemnor’s arrest shall be issued.
(B) When the contemnor appears either in response to the paragraph (A)(2) notice or following an arrest with a warrant issued pursuant to paragraph (A), the issuing authority shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the contemnor is financially able to pay as ordered.
(1) Upon a determination that the defendant is financially able to pay as ordered, the issuing authority may impose imprisonment for nonpayment, as provided by law.
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Incarceration | All | No |
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Pennsylvania | Pa. R. Crim. P. 142(b)(2) | Defaults in Payment of Fine Imposed as Punishment for Contempt |
(B) When the contemnor appears either in response to the paragraph (A)(2) notice or following an arrest with a warrant issued pursuant to paragraph (A), the issuing authority shall + See moreconduct a hearing to determine whether the contemnor is financially able to pay as ordered. . . .
(2) Upon a determination that the contemnor is financially unable to pay as ordered, the issuing authority may order a schedule for installment payments.
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Payment plan/installment plan | All | No |
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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 morea 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;
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Driver's license suspension/impoundment | Traffic | Yes |
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Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 9730(b)(2) | Failure to pay court costs, restitution and fines |
(b) Procedures regarding default.--(1) If a defendant defaults in the payment of a fine, court costs or restitution after imposition of sentence, the issuing authority or a senior judge or + See moresenior magisterial district judge appointed by the president judge for the purposes of this section may conduct a hearing to determine whether the defendant is financially able to pay.
(2) If the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge determines that the defendant is financially able to pay the fine or costs, the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge may turn the delinquent account over to a private collection agency or impose imprisonment for nonpayment, as provided by law.
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Incarceration | All | No |
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Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 9730 | Failure to pay court costs, restitution and fines |
(b) Procedures regarding default.-- . . .
(3) If the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge determines that the defendant is without the financial means to pay + See morethe fine or costs immediately or in a single remittance, the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge may provide for payment in installments. In determining the appropriate installments, the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge shall consider the defendant's financial resources, the defendant's ability to make restitution and reparations and the nature of the burden the payment will impose on the defendant. If the defendant is in default of a payment or advises the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge that default is imminent, the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge may schedule a rehearing on the payment schedule. At the rehearing the defendant has the burden of proving changes of financial condition such that the defendant is without the means to meet the payment schedule. The issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge may extend or accelerate the schedule, leave it unaltered or sentence the defendant to a period of community service as the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge finds to be just and practicable under the circumstances.
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Community service | All | No |
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Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 9730 | Failure to pay court costs, restitution and fines |
(b) Procedures regarding default.-- . . .
(3) If the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge determines that the defendant is without the financial means to pay + See morethe fine or costs immediately or in a single remittance, the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge may provide for payment in installments. In determining the appropriate installments, the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge shall consider the defendant's financial resources, the defendant's ability to make restitution and reparations and the nature of the burden the payment will impose on the defendant. If the defendant is in default of a payment or advises the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge that default is imminent, the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge may schedule a rehearing on the payment schedule. At the rehearing the defendant has the burden of proving changes of financial condition such that the defendant is without the means to meet the payment schedule. The issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge may extend or accelerate the schedule, leave it unaltered or sentence the defendant to a period of community service as the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge finds to be just and practicable under the circumstances.
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Payment plan/installment plan | All | No |
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Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 9772 | Failure to pay fine |
Unless there is proof that failure to pay a fine or that portion of the fine that is due is excusable, the court may after a hearing find the defendant + See moreguilty of contempt and sentence him to not more than six months imprisonment, if a term of confinement of that amount could have been imposed for the offense charged.
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Incarceration | All | No |
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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 moreDisposition 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.
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Driver's license suspension/impoundment | Traffic | Yes |
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Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 53.1-45.1 | Work program wage garnishment |
C. The Director shall arrange for compensation for such employment. Wages earned by prisoners shall be paid to the Director who shall deduct from such wages, in the following order + See moreof priority, an amount to:1. Meet the obligation of any judicial or administrative order to provide support and such funds shall be disbursed according to the terms of such order;
2. Pay any fines, restitution or costs as ordered by the court; and
3. Defray a portion of the prisoner's keep.
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Wage/bank account garnishment | All | Yes |
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Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 53.1-60 | Work release wage garnishment |
C. The compensation for such employment shall be arranged by the Director and shall be the same as that of regular employees in similar occupations. Any wages earned shall be + See morepaid to the Director. The Director shall, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Board, deduct from such wages, in the following order of priority, an amount to:1. Meet the obligation of any judicial or administrative order to provide support and such funds shall be disbursed according to the terms of such order;
2. Pay any fines, restitution or costs as ordered by the court;
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Wage/bank account garnishment | All | Yes |
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Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 53.1-60.1 | Inmate trust account garnishment |
Upon receipt of a valid court order or judgment against a person confined in a state correctional facility, the Director or his designee shall satisfy, to the extent possible, the + See moreamount required to be paid by the order or judgment from the inmate's trust account. The Director shall promulgate regulations governing the process of collecting funds from inmates to be used for (i) the satisfaction of judgments or orders granting monetary relief or imposing fines or other monetary sanctions or (ii) payment of court costs and fees.
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Wage/bank account garnishment | All | Yes |
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Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 53.1-127.4 | Driver's license suspension |
No suspension of driving privileges shall be issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles for failure or refusal to provide for immediate payment in full of fees imposed under § + See more53.1-131.3 or for failure to make payments under a deferred or installment payment agreement unless the sheriff or jail superintendent has (i) entered into an agreement with the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to § 46.2-320.2, (ii) has obtained a judgment and court order for suspension or nonrenewal issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, and (iii) has provided to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles electronic notice of such judgment or default and court order and the person's most current mailing address.
The provisions of this section shall apply to all unpaid fees imposed under § 53.1-131.3 provided the sheriff or jail administrator or other entity under a contract pursuant to § 53.1-127.5 informs the person who owes the fees and receives signed certification of understanding at the time the deferred or installment payment agreement is entered into that upon failure or refusal to pay in accordance with the payment agreement the person's privilege to operate a motor vehicle shall be suspended pursuant to the provisions of § 46.2-320.2.
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Driver's license suspension/impoundment | All | Yes |
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Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 53.1-127.3 | Installment payment agreement |
If a person is unable to pay in full the fees owed to the local correctional facility or regional jail pursuant to § 53.1-131.3, the sheriff or jail superintendent shall + See moreestablish a deferred or installment payment agreement subject to the approval of the general district court. As a condition of every such agreement, a person who enters into a deferred or installment payment agreement shall promptly inform the sheriff or jail superintendent of any change of mailing address during the term of the agreement.
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Payment plan/installment plan | All | Yes |
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Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 53.1-131 | Work release wage garnishment |
Any wages earned pursuant to this section by an offender may, upon order of the court, be paid to the director or administrator of the program after standard payroll deductions + See morerequired by law. Distribution of such wages shall be made for the following purposes:
1. To pay an amount to defray the cost of his keep;
2. To pay travel and other such expenses made necessary by his work release employment or participation in an educational or rehabilitative program;
3. To provide support and maintenance for his dependents or to make payments to the local department of social services or the Commissioner of Social Services, as appropriate, on behalf of dependents who are receiving public assistance or social services as defined in § 63.2-100; or
4. To pay any fines, restitution or costs as ordered by the court.
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Wage/bank account garnishment | All | No |
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Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 53.1-131.2(H) | Work release while on home/electronic incarceration program wage garnishment |
H. Any wages earned by an offender or accused assigned to a home/electronic incarceration program and participating in work release shall be paid to the director or administrator after standard + See morepayroll deductions required by law. Distribution of the money collected shall be made in the following order of priority to:
1. Meet the obligation of any judicial or administrative order to provide support and such funds shall be disbursed according to the terms of such order;
2. Pay any fines, restitution or costs as ordered by the court;
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Wage/bank account garnishment | All | Yes |
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Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 53.1-155.1 | Residential community program wage garnishment |
Any wages earned pursuant to this section by a prisoner may be paid to the director or administrator of the program after standard payroll deductions required by law. Distribution of + See moresuch wages shall be made for the following purposes:
1. To pay an amount to defray the cost of his keep;
2. To pay travel and other such expenses made necessary by his work release, employment, or participation in a residential community program or a community-based program;
3. To provide support and maintenance for his dependents or to make payments to the local department of social services or the Commissioner of Social Services, as appropriate, on behalf of dependents who are receiving public assistance as defined in § 63.2-100; or
4. To pay any fines, restitution, or costs as ordered by the court.
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Wage/bank account garnishment | All | No |
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