Data Explorer: Enforcement Mechanisms | 50 State Criminal Justice Debt Tool

Poverty Penalties and Poverty Traps

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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.

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	State	Statute	Description/Statute Name	Statutory language	Type of poverty penalty or poverty trap	Level of offense	Mandatory
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 7-503(a)	Installment	When a court imposes a fine, the court may order the defendant to pay the fine: (1) When the court imposes sentence; or (2) In specified installments at designated intervals.	Payment plan/installment plan	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 7-503(c)	Condition Probation on Payment	If a court sentences a defendant to probation, the court may make payment of a fine a condition of the sentence.	Condition or extension of supervision	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 7-504(c)(3)	Imprisonment	After an investigation that a court considers necessary as to the reasons for the failure or inability to pay a fine, the court: May order that the individual be committed + See more to a correctional facility;	Incarceration	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 7-505	Collection of Unpaid Fines and Costs	Unpaid and undischarged fines and unpaid costs may be levied, executed on, and collected in the same manner as judgments in civil cases.	Property liens	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Transp. § 26-207(a)	Revocation of Commercial License	If a person holding a commercial driver's license fails to comply with a notice to appear in court or a notice for failure to pay a fine for a traffic + See more citation issued to the person under the laws or regulations of another state, and the other state's driver licensing authority notified the Administration of the noncompliance, on receipt of the notice of noncompliance and after giving the person 10 days' written notice, the Administration shall suspend the driving privileges of the person until receipt of a notice of compliance from the other state.	Driver's license suspension/impoundment	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Transp. § 27-103(a)	Revocation of License	If a person fined under the Maryland Vehicle Law1 or under any federal traffic law or regulation for a violation occurring in Maryland does not pay the fine in accordance + See more with the court's directive: (1) The court may so certify to the Administration; and (2) On such certification, after giving the person 10 days advance written notice, the Administration may suspend the driving privileges or license of the person until the fine has been paid.	Driver's license suspension/impoundment	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law §10-119(i)	Criminal Contempt Sanctions	if the defendant willfully fails to pay the fine imposed by the court, that willful failure may be treated as a criminal contempt of court, for which the defendant may + See more be punished by the court as provided by law.	Increased fine	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law §10-127(c)	Criminal Contempt Sanctions	A defendant's willful failure to pay a fine imposed under this part may be treated as a criminal contempt punishable as provided by law.	Increased fine	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law §10-133(i)	Criminal Contempt Sanctions	if the defendant willfully fails to pay the fine imposed by the court, that willful failure may be treated as a criminal contempt of court, for which the defendant may + See more be punished by the court as provided by law.	Increased fine	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law §10-137(i)	Criminal Contempt Sanctions	if the defendant willfully fails to pay the fine imposed by the court, that willful failure may be treated as a criminal contempt of court, for which the defendant may + See more be punished by the court as provided by law.	Increased fine	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	New Mexico	N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-12-3(A),(C)	Paying fines, fees or costs in installments; community service option	A. Any person sentenced to pay a fine or to pay fees and costs in any criminal proceeding against him, either in addition to or without a term of imprisonment, + See more may in the discretion of the court be allowed to pay such fine, fees or costs in installments of such amounts, at such times and upon such conditions as the court may fix. The defendant may also be required to serve a period of time in labor to be known as “community service” in lieu of all or part of the fine. If unable to pay the fees or costs, he may be granted permission to perform community service in lieu of them as well. The labor shall be meaningful, shall not be suspended or deferred and shall be of a type that benefits the public at large or any public, charitable or educational entity or institution and is consistent with Article 9, Section 14 of the constitution of New Mexico. Any person performing community service pursuant to court order shall be immune from civil liability arising out of the community service other than for gross negligence, shall not be entitled to wages or considered an employee for any purpose and shall not be entitled to workers’ compensation, unemployment or any other benefits otherwise provided by law. Instead, a person who performs community service shall receive credit toward the fine, fees or costs at the rate of the prevailing federal hourly minimum wage. Unless otherwise provided, however, the total fine, fees and costs shall be payable forthwith. C. When a defendant sentenced to pay a fine in installments or ordered to pay fees or costs defaults in payment, the court, upon motion of the prosecutor or upon its own motion, may require the defendant to show cause why his default should not be treated as contumacious and may issue a summons or a warrant of arrest for his appearance. It shall be a defense that the defendant did not willfully refuse to obey the order of the court or that he made a good faith effort to obtain the funds required for the payment. If the defendant’s default was contumacious, the court may order him committed until the fine or a specified part of it or the fees or costs are paid. The maximum term of imprisonment for such contumacious nonpayment shall be specified in the order of commitment.	Community service, Incarceration, Payment plan/installment plan	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	New Mexico	N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-17-1(D)	Restitution Lien	An order requiring an offender to pay restitution, validly entered pursuant to this section, constitutes a judgment and lien against all property of a defendant for the amount the defendant + See more is obligated to pay under the order and may be recorded in any office for the filing of liens against real or personal property, or for garnishment. A judgment of restitution may be enforced by the state, a victim entitled under the order to receive restitution, a deceased victim's estate or any other beneficiary of the judgment in the same manner as a civil judgment. An order of restitution is enforceable, if valid, pursuant to this section, the Victims of Crime Act or Article 2, Section 24 of the constitution of New Mexico. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of a victim to pursue full civil legal remedies.	Civil judgment, Property liens	All	Yes
Add to Dashboard + Create New	New Mexico	N.M. Stat. Ann. § 67-7-11	Obstructions and Injuries to Highways: Arrest for violation; seizure of vehicle; fee	Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables, marshals, police officers and all peace officers shall have power to arrest any person violating any provision of this act on view or upon warrant issued + See more by any justice of the peace [magistrate court] or magistrate. Such officers are also authorized and directed to take into custody any vehicle involved in the violation of any provision of this act and hold the same until all fees, fines, costs and damages therefor shall be paid; provided that the owner or person in control of such vehicle may secure its release by furnishing a good and sufficient bond as required by the officer or magistrate before whom the case is prosecuted. The fee for making the arrest of any person violating any provision of this act shall upon conviction of the person or persons arrested be assessed as part of the costs and paid to the officer making such arrest, but shall not exceed one ($1.00) dollar in any case.	Incarceration	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	New Mexico	N.M. Stat. Ann. § 66-5-30(B)(2)	Authority of division to suspend or revoke license. [Effective October 1, 2019]	B. The division may issue an administrative suspension of the instruction permit, driver’s license or provisional license of a driver without preliminary hearing upon a showing by its records or other + See more sufficient evidence, including information provided to the state pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement authorized by Section 66-5-27.1 NMSA 1978, that the licensee has failed to: (2) pay a penalty assessment within thirty days of the date of issuance by the state or a tribe.	Driver's license suspension/impoundment	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	New Mexico	N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-12-3(B)	Paying fines, fees or costs in installments; community service option	The court may at any time revise, modify, reduce or enlarge the amount of the installment or the time and conditions fixed for payment of it.	Payment plan/installment plan	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	New Mexico	N.M. Stat. Ann. § 66-7-416(F)	Unlawful use of highways	Any person violating any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) + See more nor more than one hundred dollars ($100), or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than five days nor more than thirty days or by both such fine and imprisonment, and the operator and the owner of such vehicle, truck, tractor or engine from whom the driver or operator has permitted possession at the time thereof shall be jointly and severally liable to the state, county or municipality as the case may be for the actual damage caused by the operation, conducting or hauling thereof over any public highway, street, bridge, culvert or structure in violation of any provision of this act to be collected by suit brought in the name of the state, county or municipality having control of such highway or street; and such vehicle, truck, tractor or engine may be attached and held to satisfy and [any] judgment for such damages.	Property liens	Misdemeanor	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	New Mexico	N.M. Stat. Ann. § § 31-18-15(C)	Sentencing authority; noncapital felonies; basic sentences and fines; parole authority; meritorious deductions	A period of parole shall be imposed only for felony convictions wherein a person is sentenced to imprisonment of more than one year, unless the parties to a proceeding agree + See more that a period of parole should be imposed. If a period of parole is imposed, the court shall include in the judgment and sentence of each person convicted and sentenced to imprisonment in a corrections facility designated by the corrections department authority for a period of parole to be served in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-21-10 NMSA 1978 after the completion of any actual time of imprisonment and authority to require, as a condition of parole, the payment of the costs of parole services and reimbursement to a law enforcement agency or local crime stopper program in accordance with the provisions of that section.	Condition or extension of supervision	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	New Mexico	N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-17-1(B),(H)	Victim restituion	B. If the trial court exercises either of the sentencing options under Section 31-20-6 NMSA 1978, the court shall require as a condition of probation or parole that the defendant, + See more in cooperation with the probation or parole officer assigned to the defendant, promptly prepare a plan of restitution, including a specific amount of restitution to each victim and a schedule of restitution payments. H. Failure of the defendant to comply with Subsection B of this section or to comply with the plan of restitution as approved or modified by the court may constitute a violation of the conditions of probation or parole. Without limitation, the court may modify the plan of restitution or extend the period of time for restitution, but not beyond the maximum probation or parole period specified in Section 31-21-10 NMSA 1978.	Condition or extension of supervision, Incarceration	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	New Mexico	N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-17-1	Victim restitution	An order requiring an offender to pay restitution, validly entered pursuant to this section, constitutes a judgment and lien against all property of a defendant for the amount the defendant + See more is obligated to pay under the order and may be recorded in any office for the filing of liens against real or personal property, or for garnishment. A judgment of restitution may be enforced by the state, a victim entitled under the order to receive restitution, a deceased victim's estate or any other beneficiary of the judgment in the same manner as a civil judgment. An order of restitution is enforceable, if valid, pursuant to this section, the Victims of Crime Act or Article 2, Section 24 of the constitution of New Mexico. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of a victim to pursue full civil legal remedies.	Property liens	All	No
Add to Dashboard + Create New	New Mexico	N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-20-5.1	Misdemeanor compliance programs; counties may establish; fees	As a condition of probation, the district or magistrate court may require the defendant to pay a fee of not less than fifteen dollars ($15.00) nor more than fifty dollars + See more ($50.00) per month to the county for a public probation program for the term of the defendant's probation. Money collected by the county pursuant to this subsection shall be used only to operate the misdemeanor compliance program.	Condition or extension of supervision	All	No

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