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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Oklahoma Okla. Stat. tit. 10A, § 1-4-701B Reimbursements and costs by parents able to pay
The court may order the terms and conditions of the payment of costs and expenses described in subsection A of this section. When any parent is financially able but has
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willfully failed to pay the costs and reimbursements as ordered by the court pursuant to this section, the parent may be held in indirect contempt of court and, upon conviction, shall be punished pursuant to Section 566 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Increased fine 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
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collectible 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.
Payment plan/installment plan All No
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Louisiana CCRP 887 C Payment plan for fines and costs assessed
...In the event the person is unable to pay the fine when assessed, the court may allow payment within certain time limits, based on the person's ability to pay such
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costs.
Payment plan/installment plan All No
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Louisiana LA Rev Stat §13:1000.13.D Payment plan for warrant recall fee
In the event that an individual is unable to pay the cost when assessed, the court may allow payment to be deferred within a certain time frame, based on the
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person's ability to pay the costs.
Payment plan/installment plan All No
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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

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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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Alaska Alaska Stat. § 12.55.035(d) Fines

If a defendant is sentenced to pay a fine, the court may grant permission for the payment to be made within a specified period of time or in specified installments.

Payment plan/installment plan All No
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Colorado C.R.S. 18-1.3-506(1) Payment and Collection of Fines for Class 1, 2, or 3 Misdemeanors and Class 1 or 2 Petty Offenses - Release From Incarceration

Whenever the court imposes a fine for a nonviolent class 1, 2, or 3 misdemeanor or for a class 1 or 2 petty offense, if the person who committed the

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offense is unable to pay the fine at the time of the court hearing or if he or she fails to pay any fine imposed for the commission of such offense, in order to guarantee the payment of such fine, the court may: (a)  Require the person to post sufficient bond or collateral; or (b)  Enter a judgment in favor of the state or political subdivision to whom the fine is owed and enter an order based on such judgment for the garnishment of the person's earnings in accordance with the provisions of either article 54 or 54.5 of title 13, C.R.S., for the purpose of collecting said fine and the costs incurred in collecting said fine; or (c)  Enter a judgment in favor of the state or political subdivision to whom the fine is owed and execute a lien based on such judgment on any chattels, lands, tenements, moneys, and real estate of the person in accordance with article 52 of title 13, C.R.S., for the purpose of collecting said fine and the costs incurred in collecting said fine.

Increased fine Other, Misdemeanor No
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Colorado C.R.S. 16-18.5-104(1);(4);(5) Initial Collections Investigation - Payment Schedule

(1)   Orders for restitution shall be due and payable at the time that the order of conviction is entered. Unless the defendant is sentenced to the custody of the executive

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director of the department of corrections, if at the time that the court enters an order for restitution pursuant to section 18-1.3-603, C.R.S., the defendant alleges that he or she cannot pay the full amount of restitution, the court shall direct that the defendant report immediately to the collections investigator. ... (4)   (a) (I) Following the investigation described in subsection (3) of this section, the collections investigator shall establish a payment schedule and direct that the defendant: (A)  Pay the full amount ordered immediately; (B)  Pay the full amount ordered as a single payment on a specified date; or (C)  Pay the full amount ordered in specified partial amounts on specified dates.(II)  The collections investigator may ask the court to enter the payment schedule as an order of court.(b)  In addition to the payments required by paragraph (a) of this subsection (4), the collections investigator may direct that: (I)  If the defendant is unemployed, the defendant seek gainful employment and report to the investigator on such efforts by a specified date; (II)  The defendant shall not incur additional debt or financial obligation without the approval of the collections investigator, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld; or (III)  The defendant promptly report to the collections investigator any changes in income, assets, or other financial circumstances. (5)   Following the investigation required by subsection (3) of this section, the collections investigator may also:(a) (I)  Record a transcript of the order for restitution in the real estate records in the office of the clerk and recorder of any county in which the defendant holds an interest in real property. From the time of the recording of the transcript, there shall be a lien that is an encumbrance in favor of the state or the victim, or an assignee of the state or the victim, and shall encumber any interest of the defendant in real property in such county. (II)  (A) The lien created by this paragraph (a) shall remain in effect until all amounts of restitution, including interest, costs, time payment fees, and late fees are paid or for a period of twenty years after the recording of the transcript. So long as there is an amount still owing, the collections investigator or the victim or the assignee of the state or the victim may record a new transcript of the order of restitution. Any transcript of the order for restitution recorded pursuant to this subparagraph (II) prior to the expiration of the twenty-year period shall relate back to the date of the recording of the original transcript of the order for restitution and shall be valid for a period of twenty years after the recording of the subsequent transcript. More than one subsequent transcript shall be permitted. (B)  Within twenty-one days after the payment of all such amounts of restitution, the collections investigator or the victim, or the assignee of the state or the victim, shall record a certificate of satisfaction of judgment issued by the clerk of the court with each clerk and recorder where a transcript was recorded. The satisfaction of judgment shall be conclusive evidence that the lien was extinguished. (III)  The collections investigator and the victim shall be exempt from the payment of recording fees charged by the clerk and recorder for the recording of the transcripts and satisfactions of judgment. (b) (I)  File a transcript of the order for restitution with the secretary of state. From the time of the filing of the transcript, there shall be a lien that is an encumbrance in favor of the state or the victim, or an assignee of the state or the victim, and shall encumber any interest of the defendant in any personal property. (II)  The lien created by this paragraph (b), shall remain in effect without the necessity of renewal for twelve years or until all amounts of restitution, including interest, costs, time payment fees, and late fees are paid. Within twenty-one days after the payment of all such amounts of restitution, the collections investigator or the victim, or the assignee of the state or the victim, shall file a satisfaction of judgment with the secretary of state. The satisfaction of judgment shall be conclusive evidence that the lien was extinguished. (III)  The collections investigator and the victim shall be exempt from the payment of filing fees charged by the secretary of state. (c) (I)  File a transcript of the order for restitution with the authorized agent as defined in section 42-6-102 (1.5). From the time of the filing of the transcript, there shall be a lien that is an encumbrance in favor of the state or the victim, or an assignee of the state or the victim, and shall encumber any interest of the defendant in a motor vehicle. In order for such lien to be effective as a valid lien against a motor vehicle, the state or the victim, or the assignee of the state or the victim, shall have such lien filed for public record and noted on the owner's certificate of title in the manner provided in sections 42-6-121 and 42-6-129. (II)  The lien created by this paragraph (c), shall remain in effect for the same period of time as any other lien on motor vehicles as specified in section 42-6-127, C.R.S., or until all amounts of restitution, including interest, costs, time payment fees, and late fees are paid, whichever occurs first. A lien created pursuant to this paragraph (c) may be renewed pursuant to section 42-6-127, C.R.S. Within twenty-one days after the payment of all such amounts of restitution, the collections investigator or the victim or the assignee of the state or the victim shall release the lien pursuant to the procedures specified in section 42-6-125, C.R.S. When a lien created by this paragraph (c) is released, the authorized agent and the executive director of the department of revenue shall proceed as provided in section 42-6-126, C.R.S. (III)  The collections investigator and the victim shall not be exempt from the payment of filing fees charged by the authorized agent for the filing of either the transcript of order or the release of lien. However, the state or the victim, or the assignee of the state or the victim, may add the amount of the filing fees to the lien amount and collect the amount from the defendant.

 

Payment plan/installment plan All No
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Colorado C.R.S. 16-18.5-105(2);(3) Monitoring - Default - Penalties

(2)   In addition to any other costs that may accrue, for each payment of restitution that a defendant fails to make within seven days after the date that the payment

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is due pursuant to any payment schedule established pursuant to this article, the late penalty fee established in section 16-11-101.6 shall be assessed, and the associated provisions of section 16-11-101.6 may apply. The late fees shall be collected from the defendant after the defendant has satisfied all orders for restitution. All payments for late fees shall be credited to the judicial collection enhancement fund created in section 16-11-101.6 (2). (3)   Whenever a defendant fails to make a payment of restitution within seven days after the date that the payment is due pursuant to a payment schedule established pursuant to this article, in addition to any other remedy, the collections investigator may: (a)  Conduct an additional financial investigation of the defendant as described in section 16-18.5-104 (3); (b)  Issue an attachment of earnings requiring that a certain portion of a defendant's earnings, not to exceed fifty percent, be withheld and applied to any unpaid restitution, if such an attachment does not adversely impact the defendant's ability to comply with other orders of the court. An attachment of earnings under this paragraph (b) may be modified to a lesser or greater amount based upon changes in a defendant's circumstances as long as the amount withheld does not exceed fifty percent and may be suspended or cancelled at the court's discretion. An attachment of earnings issued pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall be enforceable in the same manner as a garnishment in a civil action. For purposes of this section, "earnings" shall have the same meaning as set forth for any type of garnishment in section 13-54.5-101, C.R.S., and shall include profits. (c)  Request that the clerk of the court issue a writ of execution, writ of attachment, or other civil process to collect upon a judgment pursuant to article 52 of title 13, C.R.S.; (d)  Request that the court issue a notice to show cause requiring the defendant to appear before the court and show cause why the required payment or payments were not made. Upon a finding of the defendant's failure to pay, unless the defendant establishes that he or she was unable to make the payments, the court may: (I)  Revoke probation and impose any other sentence permitted by law; (II)  Order that the defendant be confined to jail with a recommendation that the defendant participate in a work release program; (III)  Extend the period of probation; or (IV)  Find the defendant in contempt of court and impose any authorized penalties for such action. (e) (I)  Employ any method available to collect state receivables, including the assignment of the defendant's accounts to a third party that has an agreement with the judicial department under this paragraph (e). (II)  The judicial department may enter into agreements with third parties for collection-related services. Any fees or costs of the third parties shall be added to the amount of restitution owed by the defendant, but such fees and costs shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the amount collected.

Increased fine All Yes
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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 532.162(2) Order as lien upon earnings; circuit clerk to disburse; fee

(2) The circuit clerk's office shall disburse all collected reimbursement, restitution, and fees to the victim, the Kentucky Claims Commission, or the local government, whichever is appropriate. The clerk shall

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be entitled to collect a fee of two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) from each account for which a disbursement is made at the time of disbursement. In the event of challenge to a garnishment, the appropriate clerk's office shall not disburse those sums associated with the challenged garnishment until determination by the sentencing court regarding the propriety of the garnishment.

Increased fine All No
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Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 532.356(1)(a) Reimbursement and restitution as additional sanctions; ineligibility to operate motor vehicle upon conviction of certain theft, fraud, and organized crime offenses

(1) Upon a person's conviction and sentencing for any nonstatus juvenile offense, moving traffic violation, criminal violation, misdemeanor, or Class D felony offense, and, for the purposes of paragraph (b)

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of this subsection, any Class C felony offense listed in subsection (3) of this section, the court shall impose the following sanctions in addition to any imprisonment, fine, court cost, or community service:
(a) Reimbursement to the state or local government for the person's incarceration, determined by the per person, per diem, expenses of each prisoner incarcerated by the respective local government, times the number of days he has spent or shall spend in confinement, plus any medical services received by the prisoner, less copayments paid by the prisoner. The convicted person's ability to pay all or part of the reimbursement shall be considered by the sentencing court in imposing the sanction

Increased fine All No
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Idaho Idaho Code § 31-3220A Prisoner Payment of Fees at Time of Filing of Action -- Partial Payment of Fees -- Dismissal of Action

(4)  If the court permits the prisoner's action to proceed on partial payment of court fees, the court shall assess and, when funds exist, collect a partial payment of any court

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fees as set forth in sections 31-3201 and 31-3201A, Idaho Code, an initial partial filing fee of twenty percent (20%) of the greater of: (a)  The average monthly deposits to the prisoner's inmate account; or (b)  The average monthly balance for the six (6) month period immediately preceding the filing of the action;   (5)  After payment of the initial partial filing fee, the prisoner shall be required to make monthly payments of twenty percent (20%) of the preceding month's income credited to the prisoner's inmate account until the full amount of all applicable court fees set forth in sections 31-3201 and 31-3201A, Idaho Code, are paid. The agency or entity having custody of the prisoner shall forward payments from the prisoner's inmate account to the clerk of the court each time the amount in the prisoner's inmate account exceeds ten dollars ($ 10.00) until the full amount of all applicable court fees set forth in sections 31-3201 and 31-3201A, Idaho Code, are paid.

Payment plan/installment plan All No
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Idaho Idaho Code § 20-624 Imprisonment for Fine

Whenever any defendant is confined solely for willful non-payment of any fine, the court, may, in lieu of payment, confine such person at the rate of thirty-five dollars ($ 35.00)

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per day until the fine imposed is satisfied.

Incarceration, Increased fine All No
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Missouri Mo. Ann. Stat. § 545.02 Recovery of fine or forfeiture, how

Whenever a fine, penalty or forfeiture is or may be inflicted by any statute of this state for any offense, the same may be recovered by indictment or information, notwithstanding

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another or different remedy for the recovery of the same may be specified in the law imposing the fine, penalty or forfeiture; provided, that in all cases the fine, penalty or forfeiture shall go to the state, county, corporation, person or persons to whom the law imposing the same declares it shall accrue.

Incarceration, Increased fine All No
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Ohio Ohio Rev. Code § 2929.18(A)(1) Financial sanctions; restitution; reimbursements

If the court imposes restitution, the court may order that the offender pay a surcharge of not more than five per cent of the amount of the restitution otherwise ordered

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to the entity responsible for collecting and processing restitution payments.

Increased fine All No
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Indiana Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 33-37-5-22 (b) Applicability — Late Payment Fee — Requirement to Pay — Defendant Not Indigent

A court may adopt a local rule to impose a late payment fee under this section on defendants described in subsection (a).

Increased fine All No
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Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. § 137.540(12)(a) Conditions of probation; evaluation and treatment; fees; effect of failure to abide by conditions; modification

(12)(a) If the court determines that a defendant has violated the terms of probation, the court shall collect a $25 fee from the defendant and may impose a fee for

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the costs of extraditing the defendant to this state for the probation violation proceeding if the defendant left the state in violation of the conditions of the defendant’s probation. The fees imposed under this subsection become part of the judgment and may be collected in the same manner as a fine.

Increased fine All No
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Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. § 137.540(1)(a),(7) Conditions of probation; evaluation and treatment; fees; effect of failure to abide by conditions; modification

(1) The court may sentence the defendant to probation subject to the following general conditions unless specifically deleted by the court. The probationer shall: (a) Pay supervision fees, fines, restitution

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or other fees ordered by the court.


(7) Failure to abide by all general and special conditions of probation may result in arrest, modification of conditions, revocation of probation or imposition of structured, intermediate sanctions in accordance with rules adopted under ORS 137.595.

Condition or extension of supervision, Incarceration, Payment plan/installment plan All No
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Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. § 135.891(2) Required and permissive elements of diversion agreement; program fee

(2) As a condition of entering into a diversion agreement under ORS 135.881 to 135.901, the defendant must pay a program fee of $100. The court may waive all or

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part of the fee in cases involving indigent defendants, or may provide for payment of the fee on an installment basis. A fee collected under this subsection in the circuit court shall be deposited by the clerk of the court in the Criminal Fine Account. If the fee is collected in a municipal or justice court, $35 of the fee shall be forwarded by the court to the Department of Revenue for deposit in the Criminal Fine Account, and the remainder of the fee shall be paid to the city or county treasurer.

Payment plan/installment plan All No
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Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9.94A.750(1)-(2),(4) Restitution

(1) If restitution is ordered, the court shall determine the amount of restitution due at the sentencing hearing or within one hundred eighty days. The court may continue the hearing beyond

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the one hundred eighty days for good cause. The court shall then set a minimum monthly payment that the offender is required to make towards the restitution that is ordered. The court shall not issue any order that postpones the commencement of restitution payments until after the offender is released from total confinement. The court should take into consideration the total amount of the restitution owed, the offender’s present, past, and future ability to pay, as well as any assets that the offender may have. An offender’s inability to make restitution payments while in total confinement may not be the basis for a violation of his or her sentence unless his or her inability to make payments resulted from a refusal to accept an employment offer to a class I or class II job or a termination for cause from such a job.

(2) During the period of supervision, the community corrections officer may examine the offender to determine if there has been a change in circumstances that warrants an amendment of the monthly payment schedule. The community corrections officer may recommend a change to the schedule of payment and shall inform the court of the recommended change and the reasons for the change. The sentencing court may then reset the monthly minimum payments based on the report from the community corrections officer of the change in circumstances.

(4) For the purposes of this section, the offender shall remain under the court’s jurisdiction for a term of ten years following the offender’s release from total confinement or ten years subsequent to the entry of the judgment and sentence, whichever period is longer. Prior to the expiration of the initial ten-year period, the superior court may extend jurisdiction under the criminal judgment an additional ten years for payment of restitution. The portion of the sentence concerning restitution may be modified as to amount, terms and conditions during either the initial ten-year period or subsequent ten-year period if the criminal judgment is extended, regardless of the expiration of the offender’s term of community supervision and regardless of the statutory maximum sentence for the crime. The court may not reduce the total amount of restitution ordered because the offender may lack the ability to pay the total amount. The offender’s compliance with the restitution shall be supervised by the department only during any period which the department is authorized to supervise the offender in the community under RCW 9.94A.728, 9.94A.501, or in which the offender is in confinement in a state correctional institution or a correctional facility pursuant to a transfer agreement with the department, and the department shall supervise the offender’s compliance during any such period. 

 

Payment plan/installment plan All No