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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.
27 Results
| State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | Type of poverty penalty or poverty trap | Level of offense | Mandatory | |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-804(L) | Restitution for offense causing economic loss; fine for reimbursement of public monies; notification of arrearage; review hearing |
Notwithstanding any other law, a restitution lien is created in favor of a victim of the defendant ordered to make restitution. Monies received monthly from the defendant shall be applied first to satisfy the restitution order entered by the court and the payment of any restitution in arrears. Any monies that are owed by this state to a person who is under a restitution order shall be assigned first to discharge the restitution order, including any tax refund that is owed to the defendant.
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Property liens | All | Yes |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-804(M) | Restitution for offense causing economic loss; fine for reimbursement of public monies; notification of arrearage; review hearing |
If the defendant, the state or persons entitled to restitution pursuant to a court order disagree with the manner of payment established in subsection E of this section, the defendant, court or person entitled to restitution may petition the court at any time to change the manner in which the restitution is paid. Before modifying the order pertaining to the manner in which the restitution is paid, the court shall give notice and an opportunity to be heard to the defendant, the state and, on request, persons entitled to restitution pursuant to a court order.
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Payment plan/installment plan | All | No |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-805(E) | Restitution and Fines: Jurisdiction |
A criminal restitution order may be recorded and is enforceable as any civil judgment, except that a criminal restitution order does not require renewal pursuant to section 12-1611 or 12-1612. Enforcement of a criminal restitution order by any person or by the state on behalf of any person who is entitled to restitution includes the collection of interest that accrues at a rate of ten percent a year. Enforcement of a criminal restituion order by the state includes the collection of interest that accrues at a rate of four percent a year. A criminal restitution order does not expire until paid in full. A filing fee, A recording fee or any other charge is not required for recording a criminal restitution order.
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Collection fee/interest | All | Yes |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-808(A) | Time and method of payment of fine; conditions of probation; no limitation on restitution and other assessments |
If a defendant is sentenced to pay a fine alone or in addition to any other sentence, the court or a probation officer or a staff member designated by the court may grant permission for payment to be made within a specified period of time or in specified installments. If no such permission is embodied in the sentence the fine shall be payable immediately.
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Payment plan/installment plan | All | No |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-808(B) | Time and method of payment of fines; conditions of probation; no limitation on restitution and other assessments |
If a defendant sentenced to pay a fine, restitution, penalty, assessment, incarceration cost or surcharge is also sentenced to probation, the court shall make payment of the fine, restitution, penalty, assessment, incarceration cost or surcharge a condition of probation.
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Condition or extension of supervision | All | Yes |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-810(D)(1) | Consequences of nonpayment of fines, surcharges, fees, assessments, restitution or incarceration costs |
D. If the court finds that the defendant has willfully failed to pay fine, a surcharge, a fee, an assessment, restitution or incarceration costs or finds that the defendant has intentionally refused to make a good faith effort to obtain the monies required for the payment, the court shall find that the default constitutes contempt and may do any of the following: 1. Order the defendant incarcerated in the county jail until the fine, surcharge, fee, assessment, restitution or incarceration costs, or a specified part of the fine, surcharge, fee, assessment, restitution or incarceration costs, is paid.
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Incarceration | All | No |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-810(D)(2) | Consequences of nonpayment of fines, surcharges, fees, assessments, restitution or incarceration costs |
D. If the court finds that the defendant has willfully failed to pay fine, a surcharge, fee, an assessment, restitution or incarceration costs or finds that the defendant has intentionally refused to make a good faith effort to obtain the monies required for the payment, the court shall find that the default constitutes contempt and may do any of the following: 2. Refer the defendant for revocation of probation, parole or community supervision and as authorized by law.
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Condition or extension of supervision | All | No |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-810(D)(3) | Consequences of nonpayment of fines, surcharges, fees, assessments, restitution or incarceration costs |
3. Enter an order pursuant to section 13-812. The levy or execution for the collection of a fine, a surcharge, a fee, an assessment, restitution or incarceration costs does not discharge a defendant who is incarcerated for nonpayment of the fine, surcharge, fee, assessment, restitution or incarceration costs until the amount of the fine, surcharge, fee, assessment, restitution or incarceration costs is collected.
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Property liens | All | No |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-810(D)(4) | Consequences of nonpayment of fines, surcharges, fees, assessments, restitution or incarceration costs |
If the court finds that the defendant has wilfully failed to pay a fine, a fee, restitution or incarceration costs or finds that the defendant has intentionally refused to make a good faith effort to obtain the monies required for the payment, the court shall find that the default constitutes contempt and may do one of the following:4. Order the defendant to perform community restitution
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Community service | All | No |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-812 | Garnishment for nonpayment of fines, surcharges, fees, assessments, restitution or incarceration costs |
A. After a hearing on an order to show cause pursuant to § 13-810, subsection A or B or after a hearing on a petition to revoke probation pursuant to § 13-804, subsection E or the rules of criminal procedure, the court may issue a writ of criminal garnishment for any fine, fee, restitution or incarceration costs.B. The court may order garnishment for monies that are owed to a victim or the court, the clerk of the court or the prosecuting attorney pursuant to a court order to pay any fine, fee, restitution or incarceration costs. A writ of criminal garnishment applies to any of the following: 1. The defendant's earnings as defined in § 12-1598. 2. Indebtedness that is owed to a defendant by a garnishee for amounts that are not earnings. 3. Monies that are held by a garnishee on behalf of a defendant. 4. The defendant's personal property that is in the possession of a garnishee. 5. If the garnishee is a corporation, shares or securities of a corporation or a proprietary interest in a corporation that belongs to a defendant. 6. The defendant's earnings or monies that are held by the state department of corrections while the defendant is in the custody of the department.
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Wage/bank account garnishment | All | No |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-912(A) | Restoration of civil rights for first offenders; exception |
Any person who has not previously been convicted of any other felony shall automatically be restored any civil rights that were lost or suspended by the conviction if the person both:1. Completes a term of probation or receives an absolute discharge from imprisonment. 2. Pays any fine or restitution imposed.
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Other | All | Yes |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 28-1601(A) | Failure to pay civil penalty; suspension or restriction of driving privilege; collection procedure |
A. A person shall pay all civil penalties within thirty days from entry of judgment, except that if payment within thirty days will place an undue economic burden on a person, the court may extend the time for payment or may provide for installment payments. If the civil penalty is not paid or an installment payment is not made when due, the court may declare the entire civil penalty due and, if so, the court shall do either of the following:
1. Notify the department and the department shall promptly suspend the person’s driving privilege or the person’s application or privilege to apply for a driving privilege until the civil penalty is paid. 2. Order that the person’s driving privilege be restricted as described in section 28-144 until the civil penalty is paid and notify the department of the restriction. |
Driver's license suspension/impoundment | All | No |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 28-3308 | Mandatory Suspension; Failure to Appear |
On notification by the court that a person failed to appear as directed for a scheduled court appearance after service of a criminal complaint alleging a violation of a provision of this title, the department shall suspend the person’s driver license or nonresident operating privilege until the person appears. If the person appears and does not pay the person’s fines, surcharges or assessments, on notification by the court the department shall suspend the person’s driving privileges or restrict the person’s driving privileges as described in section 28-144 until the fines, surcharges and assessments are paid.
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Driver's license suspension/impoundment | Traffic | Yes |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-806 | Restitution Lien |
A. The state or any person entitled to restitution pursuant to a court order may file inaccordance with this section a restitution lien. A filing fee, recording fee or any other charge is not required for filing a restitution lien.
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Property liens | All | No |
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Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 22-429(C) | Judgment; imprisonment for fine; limitation; lien |
A sentence that the defendant pay a fine, with or without the alternative of imprisonment, shall constitute a lien in like manner as a judgment for money rendered in a civil action.
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Property liens | All | Yes |
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New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2B:12-23.1 | Community Service |
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, if a municipal court finds that a person does not have the ability to pay a penalty in full on the date + See moreof the hearing or has failed to pay a previously imposed penalty, the court may order the person to perform community service in lieu of the payment of a penalty; or, order the payment of the penalty in installments for a period of time determined by the court. If a person defaults on any payment and a municipal court finds that the defendant does not have the ability to pay, the court may: (1) reduce the penalty, suspend the penalty, or modify the installment plan; (2) order that credit be given against the amount owed for each day of confinement, if the court finds that the person has served jail time for the default; (3) revoke any unpaid portion of the penalty, if the court finds that the circumstances that warranted the imposition have changed or that it would be unjust to require payment; (4) order the person to perform community service in lieu of payment of the penalty; or (5) impose any other alternative permitted by law in lieu of payment of the penalty. b. For the purposes of this section, “penalty” means any fine, statutorily-mandated assessment, surcharge or other financial penalty imposed by a municipal court, except restitution or a surcharge assessed pursuant to subsection f. of section 1 of P.L.2000, c. 75 (C.39:4-97.2).
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Payment plan/installment plan | All | No |
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New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:46-2 | Consequences of Nonpayment |
When a defendant sentenced to pay an assessment imposed pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1979, c. 396 (C.2C:43-3.1), a penalty imposed pursuant to section 11 of P.L.2001, c. 81 (C.2C:43-3.6), + See morea penalty imposed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2005, c. 73 (C.2C:14-10), monthly probation fee, fine, a penalty imposed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1999, c. 295 (C.2C:43-3.5), other court-imposed financial obligations or to make restitution or pay child support or other support or maintenance ordered by a court defaults in the payment thereof or of any installment, upon the motion of the person authorized by law to collect the payment, the motion of the prosecutor, the motion of the victim entitled to payment of restitution, the motion of the Victims of Crime Compensation Office, the motion of the State or county Office of Victim and Witness Advocacy or upon its own motion, the court shall recall him, or issue a summons or a warrant of arrest for his appearance. The court shall afford the person notice and an opportunity to be heard on the issue of default. Failure to make any payment when due shall be considered a default. The standard of proof shall be by a preponderance of the evidence, and the burden of establishing good cause for a default shall be on the person who has defaulted. (1) If the court finds that the person has defaulted without good cause, the court shall: (a) Order the suspension of the driver's license or the nonresident reciprocity driving privilege of the person
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Driver's license suspension/impoundment | All | Yes |
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New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:46-2 | Consequences of Nonpayment |
If the court finds that the person defaulted on payment of a court-imposed financial obligation, restitution, or child support or other support or maintenance ordered by a court without good cause and finds + See morethat the default was willful, the court may, in addition to the action required by paragraph (1) of this subsection a., impose a term of imprisonment or participation in a labor assistance program or enforced community service to achieve the objective of the court-imposed financial obligation, restitution, or child support or other support or maintenance ordered by a court. These options shall not reduce the amount owed by the person in default. The term of imprisonment or enforced community service or participation in a labor assistance program in such case shall be specified in the order of commitment. It need not be equated with any particular dollar amount but, in the case of a fine it shall not exceed one day for each $50 of the fine nor shall it exceed a period of 90 consecutive days. In no case shall the total period of imprisonment in the case of a disorderly persons offense for both the sentence of imprisonment and for failure to pay a fine exceed six months.
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Incarceration | All | No |
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New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 17:29A-35 | Motor vehicle violations surcharges for private passenger automobiles |
If, upon written notification from the commission or its designee, mailed to the last address of record with the commission, a driver fails to pay a surcharge levied under this section and + See morecollectible by the commission, the driving privilege of the driver shall be suspended forthwith until at least five percent of each outstanding surcharge assessment that has resulted in suspension is paid to the commission; except that the commission may authorize payment of the surcharge on an installment basis over a period of 12 months for assessments under $2,300 or 24 months for assessments of $2,300 or more. The commission, for good cause, may authorize payment of any surcharge on an installment basis over a period not to exceed 36 months. If a driver fails to pay the surcharge or any installments on the surcharge, the total surcharge shall become due immediately, except as otherwise prescribed by rule of the commission.
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Payment plan/installment plan | All | No |
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New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 17:29A-35 | Motor vehicle violations surcharges for private passenger automobiles |
As an additional remedy, the commission may issue a certificate to the Clerk of the Superior Court stating that the person identified in the certificate is indebted under this surcharge + See morelaw in such amount as shall be stated in the certificate. The certificate shall reference the statute under which the indebtedness arises. Thereupon the clerk to whom such certificate shall have been issued shall immediately enter upon the record of docketed judgments the name of such person as debtor; the State as creditor; the address of such person, if shown in the certificate; the amount of the debt so certified; a reference to the statute under which the surcharge is assessed, and the date of making such entries. The docketing of the entries shall have the same force and effect as a civil judgment docketed in the Superior Court, and the commission shall have all the remedies and may take all of the proceedings for the collection thereof which may be had or taken upon the recovery of a judgment in an action, but without prejudice to any right of appeal.
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