Poverty Penalties and Poverty Traps

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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. §985.039(7) Cost of supervision; cost of care

With respect to a child who has been placed under the supervision or care of the department and whose parent receives public assistance for any portion of such child's care,

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the department must seek a federal waiver to garnish or otherwise order the payment of a portion of the public assistance relating to such child, in an amount not to exceed the amount of the parent's obligation, in order to offset the costs to the department associated with providing supervision or care of such child.

Wage/bank account garnishment All Yes
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Florida Fla. Adm. Code §33-203.201(10) Inmate Trust Fund

(10) Any cost judgment or other monetary judgment, order, or sanction imposed against an inmate as described in subsection (9) above, shall be paid by offsetting the amount of the

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judgment or monetary order or sanction against the inmate's funds in his Inmate Trust Fund account in the following manner:

(a) The attorney representing the state in such civil or criminal action or appeal shall file with the Office of the General Counsel, Department of Corrections, 501 South Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500, a true copy of the judgment or other monetary order or sanction which has been entered by the appropriate court, together with a cover letter stating the date and amount of the judgment, monetary order, or sanction, or the balance remaining if less than the face amount thereof, as well as the attorney's name, address and telephone number. The attorney shall also certify in the letter that: 1. He has been employed by the State to handle such action; 2. The enclosed copy of the judgment or other monetary order or sanction is a true and accurate copy thereof as actually entered by the court; 3. The judgment or relevant order is final; and 4. A copy of the letter, together with a copy of the judgment or relevant order has been furnished to the inmate at his last known address as indicated in the attorney's records.

(b) Upon receipt of the above documents, the Office of the General Counsel shall determine if the inmate is still in the custody of the Department. If the inmate is not in the custody of the Department, the Office of the General Counsel shall advise the attorney of that fact and, if known, advise the attorney of the last known forwarding address of the inmate. If the inmate is in the custody of the Department, the Office of the General Counsel shall forward the letter and a copy of the judgment or relevant order to the Bureau of Finance and Accounting, Inmate Trust Fund Section.

(c) Once the Bureau of Finance and Accounting, Inmate Trust Fund Section, receives the letter and a copy of the judgment or relevant order, a hold shall immediately be placed on the inmate's account. The inmate shall be promptly advised of the hold and that the reason therefore is an unsatisfied judgment or other monetary order or sanction. A copy of the attorney’s letter or the letter from the probation and parole field office and a copy of the judgment or relevant order will be given to the inmate upon his request.

(d) If there are sufficient funds in the inmate’s account to satisfy the amount shown as due or the remaining balance as stated by the attorney, the appropriate officer shall promptly cause a check to be issued payable to the State of Florida” and shall return the check to the attorney. The check shall be drawn and credited against funds in the inmate's account. At such time, the hold shall be released on the inmate's account. It shall be the attorney's responsibility to see that the check is forwarded to the appropriate state agency or entity.

(e) If there are insufficient funds in the inmate's account to satisfy the amount shown as due or the balance remaining as stated by the attorney, a check shall be issued payable to the State of Florida for the amount contained in the inmate's account. Each time that the inmate receives funds in his account, payment shall be disbursed to the State of Florida until the debt is satisfied. The hold shall remain on the inmate's account until sufficient funds have been paid to satisfy the amount shown as due or the balance remaining thereon. If the inmate is released from the custody of the Department before he has paid the full amount of the judgment, upon his release, a notice shall be sent to the attorney or probation and parole office advising the attorney or office of the inmate’s release, the inmate's last forwarding address, if known, and the fact that the inmate has not paid the full amount of the judgment. A copy of this notice shall be placed in the inmate's file.

Wage/bank account garnishment All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §946.002(2) Requirement of labor; compensation; amount; crediting of account of prisoner; forfeiture; civil rights; prisoner not employee or entitled to compensation insurance benefits

(2)(a) Each prisoner who is engaged in productive work in any state correctional institution, program, or facility under the jurisdiction of the department may receive for work performed such compensation

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as the department shall determine. Such compensation shall be in accordance with a schedule based on quality and quantity of work performed and skill required for performance, and said compensation shall be credited to the account of the prisoner or the prisoner’s family.

(b) Any monetary payments made directly to the prisoner shall be used in whole or in part to satisfy restitution ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction to the victim of the criminal act.

(c) It shall be the policy of the department to require inmates receiving compensation for work performed in community programs to reimburse the state for lodging, food, transportation, and other expenses incurred for sustaining the inmate. Reimbursement shall be according to rules promulgated by the department, which shall provide that the inmate retain only a minimal amount of money for personal items and shall take into consideration compensation that may be allocated for the support of the inmate’s family and for restitution for the victim of the crime committed.

Wage/bank account garnishment All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §944.485 Subsistence fees with respect to certain prisoners; time of adoption; requirements

(1) In recognition of the fact that many prisoners in the correctional system have sources of income and assets outside of the correctional system, which may include bank accounts, inheritances, real

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estate, social security payments, veteran’s payments, and other types of financial resources, and in recognition of the fact that the daily subsistence cost of incarcerating prisoners in the correctional system is a great burden on the taxpayers of the state, each prisoner in the state correctional system, except those who have entered into an agreement under s. 947.135 prior to October 1, 1978: (a) Shall disclose all revenue or assets as a condition of parole or other release eligibility. (b) Shall pay from such income and assets, except where such income is exempt by state or federal law, all or a fair portion of the prisoner’s daily subsistence costs, based upon the inmate’s ability to pay, the liability or potential liability of the inmate to the victim or the guardian or the estate of the victim, and the needs of his or her dependents.

(2)(a) Any prisoner who is directed to pay all or a fair portion of daily subsistence costs is entitled to reasonable advance notice of the assessment and shall be afforded an opportunity to present reasons for opposition to the assessment. (b) An order directing payment of all or a fair portion of a prisoner’s daily subsistence costs may survive against the estate of the prisoner.

Wage/bank account garnishment All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §775.089(12)(a)1 Restitution

(12)(a) Issuance of income deduction order with an order for restitution.— 1. Upon the entry of an order for restitution, the court shall enter a separate order for income deduction

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if one has not been entered.

Wage/bank account garnishment 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

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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.

Wage/bank account garnishment All Yes
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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

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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.

Wage/bank account garnishment All Yes
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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

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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.

Wage/bank account garnishment All No
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Florida Fla. Stat. §951.24(3)(c) Extend the limits of confinement for county prisoners

Every prisoner gainfully employed is liable for the cost of his or her board in the jail as fixed by the county. The sheriff shall charge the prisoner's account, if

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he or she has one, for such board. If the prisoner is gainfully self-employed he or she shall deposit with the sheriff an amount determined by the court sufficient to accomplish the provisions of subparagraphs (a)1.-5., in default of which his or her privileges under this section are automatically forfeited.

Wage/bank account garnishment All Yes
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Michigan Mich. Comp. Laws § 769.1(k) Wage assignment The court may require the defendant to pay any fine, cost, or assessment ordered to be paid under this section by wage assignment. Wage/bank account garnishment All No
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Michigan Mich. Comp. Laws § 780.830a Deductions and payments
(1) If a defendant who has been sentenced to jail is ordered to pay restitution under section 76, and if the defendant receives more than $50.00 in a month, the
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sheriff may deduct 50% of the amount over $50.00 received by the defendant for payment of the restitution, and 5% of the amount over $50.00 received by the defendant to be retained by the sheriff as an administrative fee. The sheriff shall promptly send the money deducted for restitution to the court or to the crime victim as provided in the order of restitution when it accumulates to an amount that exceeds $100.00, or when the defendant is released to probation or discharged on the maximum sentence.
Wage/bank account garnishment All No
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Michigan Mich. Comp. Laws § 780.796(b)(1)-(3) Deductions and payments - juvenile
(1) If a juvenile who has been sentenced to the department of corrections is ordered to pay restitution under section 44, and if the juvenile receives more than $50.00 in
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a month, the department of corrections shall deduct 50% of the amount over $50.00 received by the juvenile for payment of the restitution. The department of corrections shall promptly send the deducted money to the court or to the crime victim as provided in the order of restitution when it accumulates to an amount that exceeds $100.00, or when the juvenile is paroled, transferred to community programs, or discharged on the maximum sentence. (2) If a juvenile who has been sentenced to jail is ordered to pay restitution under section 44, and if the juvenile receives more than $50.00 in a month, the sheriff may deduct 50% of the amount over $50.00 received by the juvenile for payment of the restitution, and 5% of the amount over $50.00 received by the juvenile to be retained by the sheriff as an administrative fee. The sheriff shall promptly send the money deducted for restitution to the court or to the crime victim as provided in the order of restitution when it accumulates to an amount that exceeds $100.00, or when the juvenile is released to probation or discharged on the maximum sentence. (3) If a juvenile who has been placed in a juvenile facility is ordered to pay restitution under section 44, and if the juvenile receives more than $50.00 in a month, the department of human services or the county juvenile agency, as applicable, may deduct 50% of the amount over $50.00 received by the juvenile for payment of the restitution. The department of human services or the county juvenile agency, as applicable, shall promptly send the deducted money to the court or to the crime victim as provided in the order of restitution when it accumulates to an amount that exceeds $100.00, or when the juvenile is released from the juvenile facility.
Wage/bank account garnishment All Yes
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Michigan Mich. Comp. Laws § 12.136 Collection Services to the Courts: Offsetting tax refunds or other payments; order of priority
The department, pursuant to its statutory and common law authority, may offset tax refunds or other payments due from the state to a person who owes a debt to a
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court that would be collectible under an agreement described in this act.
Wage/bank account garnishment All No
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Michigan Mich. Comp. Laws § 780.826(15) Offsetting tax refunds
In each case in which payment of restitution is ordered as a condition of probation, the court shall order any employed defendant to make regularly scheduled restitution payments. If the
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defendant misses 2 or more regularly scheduled payments, the court shall order the defendant to execute a wage assignment to pay the restitution. The probation officer assigned to the case shall review the case not less than twice yearly to ensure that restitution is being paid as ordered. If the restitution was ordered to be made within a specific period of time, the probation officer assigned to the case shall review the case at the end of the specific period of time to determine if the restitution has been paid in full. The final review shall be conducted not less than 60 days before the probationary period expires. If the probation officer determines at any review that restitution is not being paid as ordered, the probation officer shall file a written report of the violation with the court on a form prescribed by the state court administrative office or shall petition the court for a probation violation. The report or petition shall include a statement of the amount of the arrearage and any reasons for the arrearage known by the probation officer. The probation officer shall immediately provide a copy of the report or petition to the prosecuting attorney. If a petition or motion is filed or other proceedings are initiated to enforce payment of restitution and the court determines that restitution is not being paid or has not been paid as ordered by the court, the court shall promptly take action necessary to compel compliance.
Wage/bank account garnishment Misdemeanor Yes
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Michigan Mich. Comp. Laws § 771.3(2) Restitution by defendant convicted of misdemeanor
As a condition of probation, the court may require the probationer to do 1 or more of the following: . . . (b) Pay immediately or within the period of
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his or her probation a fine imposed when placed on probation. (c) Pay costs pursuant to subsection (5). (d) Pay any assessment ordered by the court other than an assessment described in subsection (1)(f). . . . (f) Agree to pay by wage assignment any restitution, assessment, fine, or cost imposed by the court.
Wage/bank account garnishment All No