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Poverty Penalties and Poverty Traps
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- Civil judgment (2)
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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.
122 Results
| State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | Type of poverty penalty or poverty trap | Level of offense | Mandatory | |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §322.245(5)(a) | Suspension of license upon failure of person charged with specified offense |
When the department receives notice from a clerk of the court that a person licensed to operate a motor vehicle in this state under the provisions of this chapter has failed to pay financial obligations for any criminal offense other than those specified in subsection (1), in full or in part under a payment plan pursuant to s. 28.246(4), the department shall suspend the license of the person named in the notice.
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Driver's license suspension/impoundment | All | Yes |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §945.091(6)(a) | Extension of the limits of confinement; restitution by employed inmates |
The department shall require inmates working at paid employment as provided in paragraph (1)(b) to use a portion of the employment proceeds to provide restitution to the aggrieved party for the damage or loss caused by the offense of the inmate, in an amount to be determined by the department, unless the department finds clear and compelling reasons not to order such restitution. If restitution or partial restitution is not ordered, the department shall state on the record in detail the reasons therefor.
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Wage/bank account garnishment | All | Yes |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §951.16 | Prisoners entitled to receive credit on fine based on imprisonment |
Every person who may be imprisoned in the county jail for failure to pay a fine and costs, or either, under sentence imposed upon conviction for crime shall be entitled to receive, together with subsistence, a credit on such fine and costs, or either, as the case may be, in proportion to the time such person may be imprisoned.
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Incarceration | All | Yes |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §922.04 | Discharge of prisoner unable to pay fine |
When the court determines on the written application of a prisoner that he or she has been imprisoned for 60 days solely for failure to pay a fine or costs which total not more than $300 and that the prisoner is indigent and unable to pay the fine or costs, the court shall order the prisoner discharged from custody.
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Incarceration | All | Yes |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §945.091(6)(b) | Extension of the limits of confinement; restitution by employed inmates |
An offender who is required to provide restitution or reparation may petition the circuit court to amend the amount of restitution or reparation required or to revise the schedule of repayment established by the department or the Florida Commission on Offender Review.
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Payment plan/installment plan | All | Yes |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §960.294(2) | Effect of civil restitution liens |
APPLICABILITY OF ALL JUDGMENT ENFORCEMENT REMEDIES. — A civil restitution lien order may be enforced by the crime victims, the state and its local subdivisions, or other aggrieved parties named in the civil restitution lien order, in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action, including levy against personal property by the sheriffs of this state and foreclosure against nonexempt real property. The provisions of chapter 726 apply to the transfer of the convicted offender’s assets to a third party and all other judgment enforcement remedies that are available by law.
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Property liens | All | No |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §946.512 | Inmate compensation plan |
The corporation shall establish a compensation plan that provides for a specific amount to be paid to the department to be credited to an account for an inmate performing labor and a portion to be used to make any court-ordered payments, including restitution to the victim, and a specific amount to be paid to the Prison Industries Trust Fund to be used as provided in s. 946.522. Such funds, excluding victim restitution payments, court-ordered payments, and the amount credited to the account of the inmate, shall be deposited in the Prison Industries Trust Fund to be used as provided in s. 946.522.
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Wage/bank account garnishment | All | Yes |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §938.30(2) | Financial obligations in criminal cases; supplementary proceedings |
The court may require a person liable for payment of an obligation to appear and be examined under oath concerning the person’s financial ability to pay the obligation. The judge may convert the statutory financial obligation into a court-ordered obligation to perform community service, subject to the provisions of s. 318.18(8), after examining a person under oath and determining the person’s inability to pay. Any person who fails to attend a hearing may be arrested on warrant or capias issued by the clerk upon order of the court.
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Community service | All | No |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §946.513(1) | Private employment of inmates; disposition of compensation received |
Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, an inmate may be employed by the corporation or by any other private entity operating on the grounds of a correctional institution prior to the last 24 months of the inmate’s confinement. Compensation received for such employment shall be credited by the department to an account for the inmate and shall be used to make any court-ordered payments, including restitution to the victim. The department rules shall provide that a portion of such compensation be credited by the department in the manner provided in s. 946.512.
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Wage/bank account garnishment | All | No |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §776.085(4)(b) | Defense to civil action for damages; party convicted of forcible or attempted forcible felony |
The court shall award a reasonable attorney's fee to be paid to the prevailing party in equal amounts by the losing party and the losing party's attorney; however, the losing party's attorney is not personally responsible if he or she has acted in good faith, based on the representations of his or her client. If the losing party is incarcerated for the crime or attempted crime and has insufficient assets to cover payment of the costs of the action and the award of fees pursuant to this paragraph, the party shall, as determined by the court, be required to pay by deduction from any payments the prisoner receives while incarcerated.
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Payment plan/installment plan | All | Yes |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §806.13(8) | Criminal mischief; penalties; penalty for minor |
A minor whose driver license or driving privilege is revoked, suspended, or withheld under subsection (7) may elect to reduce the period of revocation, suspension, or withholding by performing community service at the rate of 1 day for each hour of community service performed. In addition, if the court determines that due to a family hardship, the minor's driver license or driving privilege is necessary for employment or medical purposes of the minor or a member of the minor's family, the court shall order the minor to perform community service and reduce the period of revocation, suspension, or withholding at the rate of 1 day for each hour of community service performed. As used in this subsection, the term community service means cleaning graffiti from public property.
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Community service | Misdemeanor | Yes |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §812.015(2) | Retail and farm theft; transit fare evasion; mandatory fine; alternative punishment; detention and arrest; exemption from liability for false arrest; resisting arrest; penalties |
Upon a second or subsequent conviction for petit theft from a merchant, farmer, or transit agency, the offender shall be punished as provided in s. 812.014(3), except that the court shall impose a fine of not less than $50 or more than $1,000. However, in lieu of such fine, the court may require the offender to perform public services designated by the court. In no event shall any such offender be required to perform fewer than the number of hours of public service necessary to satisfy the fine assessed by the court, as provided by this subsection, at the minimum wage prevailing in the state at the time of sentencing.
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Community service | All | No |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §945.6038(1) | Inmate litigation costs |
(1) The department shall charge an inmate for the following and place a lien on the inmate's trust fund account if the inmate has insufficient funds at the time the charges are imposed:(a) Costs of duplication of documents and accompanying evidentiary materials needed to initiate civil proceedings in judicial or administrative forums or that must be filed or served in a pending civil proceeding. The following costs are authorized: 1. Up to 15 cents per one-sided copy for duplicated copies of not more than 14 inches by 81/2 inches; or 2. For all other copies, the actual cost of duplication.
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Property liens | All | Yes |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §895.06(2) | Civil investigative subpoenas; public records exemption |
(2) A subpoena issued pursuant to this chapter is confidential for 120 days after the date of its issuance. The subpoenaed person or entity may not disclose the existence of the subpoena to any person or entity other than his or her attorney during the 120-day period. The subpoena must include a reference to the confidentiality of the subpoena and a notice to the recipient of the subpoena that disclosure of the existence of the subpoena to any other person or entity except the subpoenaed person’s or entity’s attorney is prohibited. The investigative agency may apply ex parte to the circuit court for the circuit in which a subpoenaed person or entity resides, is found, or transacts business for an order directing that the subpoenaed person or entity not disclose the existence of the subpoena to any other person or entity except the subpoenaed person’s attorney for an additional period of time for good cause shown by the investigative agency. The order shall be served on the subpoenaed person or entity with the subpoena, and the subpoena must include a reference to the order and a notice to the recipient of the subpoena that disclosure of the existence of the subpoena to any other person or entity in violation of the order may subject the subpoenaed person or entity to punishment for contempt of court. Such an order may be granted by the court only upon a showing:
(a) Of sufficient factual grounds to reasonably indicate a violation of ss 895.01-895.06 (b) That the documents or testimony sought appear reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence; and (c) Of facts that reasonably indicate that disclosure of the subpoena would hamper or impede the investigation or would result in a flight from prosecution. |
Increased fine | All | No |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §895.06(5) | Civil investigative subpoenas; public records exemption |
A person who fails to obey a court order entered pursuant to this section may be punished for contempt of court. |
Increased fine | All | No |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §958.12(1) | Participation in certain activities required |
(1) A youthful offender shall be required to participate in work assignments, and in career, academic, counseling, and other rehabilitative programs in accordance with this section, including, but not limited to:(a) All youthful offenders may be required, as appropriate, to participate in: 1. Reception and orientation. 2. Evaluation, needs assessment, and classification. 3. Educational programs. 4. Career and job training. 5. Life and socialization skills training, including anger/aggression control. 6. Prerelease orientation and planning. 7. Appropriate transition services. (b) In addition to the requirements in paragraph (a), the department shall make available: 1. Religious services and counseling. 2. Social services. 3. Substance abuse treatment and counseling. 4. Psychological and psychiatric services. 5. Library services. 6. Medical and dental health care. 7. Athletic, recreational, and leisure time activities. 8. Mail and visiting privileges. Income derived by a youthful offender from participation in such activities may be used, in part, to defray a portion of the costs of his or her incarceration or supervision; to satisfy preexisting obligations; to pay fines, counseling fees, or other costs lawfully imposed; or to pay restitution to the victim of the crime for which the youthful offender has been convicted in an amount determined by the sentencing court. Any such income not used for such reasons or not used as provided in s. 946.513 or s. 958.09 shall be placed in a bank account for use by the youthful offender upon his or her release.
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Work program/jail industry program | All | Yes |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §984.09(1) | Punishment for contempt of court; alternative sanctions |
Contempt of court; legislative intent. — The court may punish any child for contempt for interfering with the court or with court administration, or for violating any provision of this chapter or order of the court relative thereto. It is the intent of the Legislature that the court restrict and limit the use of contempt powers with respect to commitment of a child to a secure facility. A child who commits direct contempt of court or indirect contempt of a valid court order may be taken into custody and ordered to serve an alternative sanction or placed in a secure facility, as authorized in this section, by order of the court.
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Increased fine | All | No |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §944.4731(7) | Addiction-Recovery Supervision Program |
(7) While participating in a substance abuse transition housing program, an offender shall: (a) Adhere to all conditions of supervision enforced by the commission and the program provider. Failure to comply with such rules or conditions may result in revocation of supervision pursuant to s. 947.141. (b) Pay fees to defray program costs, costs of supervision required under s. 948.09, and any restitution or obligations for child support. (c) Participate in a cognitive behavior model or 12-step model of recovery.
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Condition or extension of supervision | All | Yes |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §984.09(3) | Punishment for contempt of court; alternative sanctions |
ALTERNATIVE SANCTIONS. Each judicial circuit shall have an alternative sanctions coordinator who shall serve under the chief administrative judge of the juvenile division of the circuit court, and who shall coordinate and maintain a spectrum of contempt sanction alternatives in conjunction with the circuit plan implemented in accordance with s. 790.22(4)(c). Upon determining that a child has committed direct contempt of court or indirect contempt of a valid court order, the court may immediately request the alternative sanctions coordinator to recommend the most appropriate available alternative sanction and shall order the child to perform up to 50 hours of community-service manual labor or a similar alternative sanction, unless an alternative sanction is unavailable or inappropriate, or unless the child has failed to comply with a prior alternative sanction. Alternative contempt sanctions may be provided by local industry or by any nonprofit organization or any public or private business or service entity that has entered into a contract with the Department of Juvenile Justice to act as an agent of the state to provide voluntary supervision of children on behalf of the state in exchange for the manual labor of children and limited immunity in accordance with s. 768.28(11).
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Increased fine | All | No |
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §984.09(3) | Punishment for contempt of court; alternative sanctions |
ALTERNATIVE SANCTIONS.Each judicial circuit shall have an alternative sanctions coordinator who shall serve under the chief administrative judge of the juvenile division of the circuit court, and who shall coordinate and maintain a spectrum of contempt sanction alternatives in conjunction with the circuit plan implemented in accordance with s. 790.22(4)(c). Upon determining that a child has committed direct contempt of court or indirect contempt of a valid court order, the court may immediately request the alternative sanctions coordinator to recommend the most appropriate available alternative sanction and shall order the child to perform up to 50 hours of community-service manual labor or a similar alternative sanction, unless an alternative sanction is unavailable or inappropriate, or unless the child has failed to comply with a prior alternative sanction. Alternative contempt sanctions may be provided by local industry or by any nonprofit organization or any public or private business or service entity that has entered into a contract with the Department of Juvenile Justice to act as an agent of the state to provide voluntary supervision of children on behalf of the state in exchange for the manual labor of children and limited immunity in accordance with s. 768.28(11).
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Community service | All | Yes |
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For more information, please visit cjpp.law.harvard.edu.