Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard Law School
50-State Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder Bringing transparency to areas of significant legal complexity.
50-State Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder Bringing transparency to areas of significant legal complexity.
Ability to Pay
Keyword search across all of the laws in the states. Subject-area tabs above allow you to narrow results. Click the advanced search for further refinement.
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State
- Alabama (12)
- (-) Alaska (8)
- Arizona (5)
- Arkansas (8)
- California (90)
- Colorado (29)
- Connecticut (19)
- Delaware (4)
- Florida (36)
- Georgia (14)
- Hawaii (14)
- Idaho (15)
- Illinois (23)
- Indiana (15)
- Iowa (12)
- Kansas (6)
- Kentucky (17)
- Louisiana (10)
- Maine (9)
- Maryland (3)
- Massachusetts (39)
- (-) Michigan (17)
- Minnesota (14)
- Mississippi (8)
- Missouri (15)
- Montana (29)
- Nebraska (14)
- Nevada (7)
- New Hampshire (29)
- New Jersey (9)
- New Mexico (14)
- New York (8)
- North Carolina (14)
- North Dakota (14)
- Ohio (32)
- Oklahoma (10)
- Oregon (13)
- Pennsylvania (6)
- Rhode Island (3)
- South Carolina (17)
- South Dakota (10)
- Tennessee (11)
- Texas (17)
- Utah (5)
- Vermont (9)
- Virginia (10)
- Washington (15)
- Washington DC (5)
- West Virginia (16)
- Wisconsin (7)
- Wyoming (17)
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Below are the ability to pay laws that meet your search criteria. Many include a See related provisions prompt which searches our database for laws that may pertain to your result.
25 Results
| State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | Level of offense | Definition of ability to pay | Timeline | Burden of proof | Method of determination | Mandatory | Remedies if unable to pay | |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 12.55.051(c) | Enforcement of Fines and Restitution |
A defendant who has been sentenced to pay a fine or restitution may request a hearing regarding the defendant's ability to pay the fine or restitution at any time that the defendant is required to pay all or a portion of the fine or restitution. The court may deny the request if it has previously considered the defendant's ability to pay and the defendant's request does not allege changed circumstances. If, at a hearing under this subsection, the defendant proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant will be unable through good faith efforts to satisfy the order requiring payment of the fine or restitution, the court shall modify the order so that the defendant can pay the fine or restitution through good faith efforts. The court may reduce the fine ordered, change the payment schedule, or otherwise modify the order. The court may not reduce an order of restitution but may change the payment schedule.
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All |
"Defendant will be unable through good faith efforts to satisfy the order requiring payment of the fine or restitution." |
At defendant's request at enforcement | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Determined by judge after hearing | No |
Reduction of fine; modification of fee schedule; or any other modification the Court thinks appropriate. |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 18.85.120 | Determination of Indigency; Repayment |
(a) The determination of a person's indigency shall be made by the court in which an action against the person is pending. The determination shall be made by the court and shall set out the basis for the finding that the person is indigent. (b) In determining whether a person is indigent and in determining the extent of the person's inability to pay, the court shall consider such factors as income, property owned, outstanding obligations, and the number and ages of dependents. Release on bail does not preclude a finding that a person is indigent. In each case, the person, subject to the penalties for perjury, shall certify under oath, and in writing or by other record, material factors relative to the person's financial resources and ability to pay that the court prescribes.
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All |
"The court shall consider such factors as income, property owned, outstanding obligations, and the number and ages of dependents." |
Before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Determined by judge without hearing | No | Not provided for |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 12.55.039(b) | Surcharge |
A court may not fail to impose the surcharge required under this section. The surcharge may not be waived, deferred, or suspended. A court may allow a defendant who is unable to pay the surcharge required to be imposed under this section to perform community work under AS 12.55.055(c) in lieu of the surcharge.
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All |
"Unable to pay the surcharge." |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | No |
Community Service |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. § 12.55.045(g),(j),(k) | Restitution and Compensation |
(g) The court may not, in ordering the amount of restitution, consider the defendant’s ability to pay restitution; (j) A defendant who is convicted of an offense for which restitution may be ordered shall submit financial information as ordered by the court. The Alaska Court System shall prepare a form, in consultation with the Department of Law, for the submission of the information; the form must include a warning that submission of incomplete or inaccurate information is punishable as unsworn falsification in the second degree under AS 11.56.210. A defendant who is convicted of (1) a felony shall submit the form to the probation office within 30 days after conviction, and the probation officer shall attach the form to the presentence report, or (2) a misdemeanor shall file the form with the defendant’s response or opposition to the restitution amount. The defendant shall provide a copy of the completed form to the prosecuting authority; (k) The court, on its own motion or at the request of the prosecuting authority or probation officer, may order a defendant on probation who has been ordered to pay restitution to submit financial information to the court using the form specified in (j) of this section. The defendant shall file the completed form with the court within five days after the court’s order. The defendant shall provide a copy of the completed form to the prosecuting authority and the person’s probation officer, if any.
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No | Not provided for |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. § 18.85.155(a) | Payment by Municipality |
When a municipality prosecutes a person who has been determined by the court to be indigent under AS 18.85.120 for a violation of a municipal ordinance that is a serious crime, the municipality shall pay for the services of the attorney appointed by the court to defend the indigent person.
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All |
"Indigent under AS 18.85.120" |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
The municipality shall pay for the services of the attorney appointed by the court to defend the indigent person. |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. § 33.30.028(b) | Responsibility for Costs of Medical Care |
The commissioner shall require prisoners who are without resources under (a) of this section to pay the costs of medical, psychological, and psychiatric care provided to them by the department. At a minimum, the prisoner shall be required to pay a portion of the costs based upon the prisoner’s ability to pay.
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Administrative decision | No |
Required to pay a portion of the costs. |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. § 12.55.100(f) | Conditions of Probation |
While on probation and as a special condition of probation for an offense where the aggravating factor provided in AS 12.55.155(c)(29) has been proven or admitted, the court shall require that the defendant submit to electronic monitoring. Electronic monitoring under this subsection must provide for monitoring of the defendant’s location and movements by Global Positioning System technology. The court shall require a defendant serving a period of probation with electronic monitoring as provided under this subsection to pay all or a portion of the costs of the electronic monitoring, but only if the defendant has sufficient financial resources to pay the costs or a portion of the costs. A defendant subject to electronic monitoring under this subsection is not entitled to a credit for time served in a correctional facility while the defendant is on probation. In this subsection, “correctional facility” has the meaning given in AS 33.30.901.
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All |
"Sufficient financial resources to pay the costs or a portion of the costs." |
Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | No | Not provided for |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. § 09.19.010 | Limitation on Exemption From Filing Fees |
(c) Based on the submission under (b) of this section, the court may grant an exemption from part of the applicable filing fees if the court finds that exceptional circumstances prevent the prisoner from paying full filing fees. Imprisonment and indigency do not constitute exceptional circumstances if the prisoner has available income or resources that can be applied to the filing fee; (d) If the court orders an exemption under (c) of this section, the court shall determine the amount of the exemption and set a filing fee to be paid by the prisoner. In setting the fee, the court, at a minimum, shall require the prisoner to pay filing fees equal to 20 percent of the larger of the average monthly deposits made to the prisoner’s account described in (b)(2) of this section, or the average balance in that account, not to exceed the amount of the full filing fee required under applicable court rules.
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All |
"Exceptional circumstances prevent the prisoner from paying full filing fees" |
At defendant's request before imposition of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Administrative decision | No |
Fee is recalculated based on prisoner's resources. |
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Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 772.6 | Failure to pay recognizance |
If the person so ordered to recognize refuses or neglects to provide that recognizance, the court shall commit the person to the county jail during the period for which security + See morewas required, or until the person provides that recognizance. A person shall not be incarcerated for failure to pay the recognizance unless the court conducts a hearing and determines that the person has the resources to pay the recognizance and has not made a good faith effort to do so. In determining whether to incarcerate the person, the court shall also consider the person's employment status, earning ability, and financial resources; the willfulness of the person's failure to pay the recognizance; and any other special circumstances that may have a bearing on the person's ability to pay the recognizance. The court shall state in the warrant the cause of commitment with the sum and the time for which the security was required.
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All |
the person has the resources to pay the recognizance and has not made a good faith effort to do so |
At enforcement of fine or fee | Not provided for | Determined by judge after hearing | No |
none |
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Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.908(1)-(4) | Default as civil contempt; penalty |
If a defendant defaults in the payment of a civil fine, costs, or both, or of any installment, as ordered pursuant to section 907(2), the court, upon the motion of + See morethe plaintiff or upon its own motion, may require the defendant to show cause why the default should not be treated as in civil contempt and may issue a summons or order to show cause or a bench warrant of arrest for the defendant's appearance. . . . If it appears that the default in the payment of a civil fine or costs does not constitute civil contempt, the court may enter an order allowing the defendant additional time for payment, reducing the amount of payment or of each installment, or revoking the fine or costs or the unpaid portion thereof in whole or in part. . .
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Traffic |
"default was not attributable to an intentional refusal to obey the order of the court or to a failure on his or her part to make a good faith effort to obtain the funds required for payment"
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At enforcement of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Determined by judge after hearing | No |
allowing the defendant additional time for payment, reducing the amount of payment or of each installment, or revoking the fine or costs or the unpaid portion thereof in whole or in part
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Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.8729(1)-(4) | Payment of fine, default as civil contempt |
If a defendant defaults in the payment of a civil fine, costs, assessment, or, if applicable, damages or expenses as provided in section 8733(2) if applicable, or any installment, as + See moreordered pursuant to section 8727, the court, upon the motion of the plaintiff or upon its own motion, may require the defendant to show cause why the defendant should not be held in civil contempt and may issue a summons, an order to show cause, or a bench warrant of arrest for the defendant's appearance. . . . If it appears that the default in the payment of a fine, costs, assessment, or damages or expenses does not constitute civil contempt, the court may enter an order allowing the defendant additional time for payment, reducing the amount of payment or of each installment, or revoking the fine, costs, assessment, or damages or expenses.
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All |
"the default was not attributable to an intentional refusal to obey the order of the court or to a failure on his or her part to make a good faith effort to obtain the funds required for payment"
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At enforcement of fine or fee | Burden on defendant to show inability to pay | Determined by judge after hearing | No |
allowing the defendant additional time for payment, reducing the amount of payment or of each installment, or revoking the fine, costs, assessment, or damages or expense |
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Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 791.225a | Projected income and financial resources |
(3) In determining the amount of the fee, the department shall consider the offender's projected income and financial resources. . . . (6) If a person has not paid the + See morefull amount of a supervision fee upon being discharged from probation, or upon termination of the period of delayed sentence for a person subject to delayed sentence, the department shall review and compare the actual income of the person during the period of probation or delayed sentence with the income amount projected when the supervision fee was ordered. If the department determines that the person's actual income did not equal or exceed the projected income, the department shall waive any unpaid amount in excess of the total amount that the person would have been ordered to pay if the person's income had been accurately projected, unless the court order states that a higher amount was ordered due to available assets or other financial resources.
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Administrative decision | Yes |
Not specified |
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Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 780.794(11) | Juvenile probation |
(11) If the juvenile is placed on probation, any restitution ordered under this section shall be a condition of that probation. The court may revoke probation if the juvenile fails + See moreto comply with the order and if the juvenile has not made a good faith effort to comply with the order. In determining whether to revoke probation, the court shall consider the juvenile's employment status, earning ability, and financial resources, the willfulness of the juvenile's failure to pay, and any other special circumstances that may have a bearing on the juvenile's ability to pay.
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Other | No |
Modification of the amount or method of payment |
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Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 780.794(12) | Juvenile probation |
(12) Subject to subsection (18), a juvenile who is required to pay restitution and who is not in willful default of the payment of the restitution may at any time + See morepetition the court to modify the method of payment. If the court determines that payment under the order will impose a manifest hardship on the juvenile or his or her immediate family, and if the court also determines that modifying the method of payment will not impose a manifest hardship on the victim, the court may modify the method of payment.
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Other | Yes |
Not specified |
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Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 780.794(14) | Juvenile probation |
(14) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a juvenile shall not be detained or imprisoned for a violation of probation or parole or otherwise for failure to pay restitution + See moreas ordered under this section unless the court determines that the juvenile has the resources to pay the ordered restitution and has not made a good faith effort to do so.
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Other | Yes |
Not specified |
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Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 780.794(15) | Juvenile probation |
(15) If the court determines that the juvenile is or will be unable to pay all of the restitution ordered, after notice to the juvenile's parent or parents and an + See moreopportunity for the parent or parents to be heard, the court may order the parent or parents having supervisory responsibility for the juvenile at the time of the acts upon which an order of restitution is based to pay any portion of the restitution ordered that is outstanding. . .
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Other | Yes |
Not specified |
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Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 780.794(16) | Juvenile probation |
(16) If the court orders a parent to pay restitution under subsection (15), the court shall take into account the parent's financial resources and the burden that the payment of + See morerestitution will impose
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Other | Yes |
Not specified |
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Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 780.794(17) | Juvenile probation |
(17) A parent who has been ordered to pay restitution under subsection (15) may petition the court for a modification of the amount of restitution owed by the parent or + See morefor a cancellation of any unpaid portion of the parent's obligation. The court shall cancel all or part of the parent's obligation due if the court determines that payment of the amount due will impose a manifest hardship on the parent and if the court also determines that modifying the method of payment will not impose a manifest hardship on the victim.
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Other | Yes |
Not specified |
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Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 771.3(6)(a) | Cost imposed as part of sentence of probation |
(6) If the court imposes costs under subsection (2) as part of a sentence of probation, all of the following apply: (a) The court shall not require a probationer to + See morepay costs under subsection (2) unless the probationer is or will be able to pay them during the term of probation. In determining the amount and method of payment of costs under subsection (2), the court shall take into account the probationer's financial resources and the nature of the burden that payment of costs will impose, with due regard to his or her other obligations.
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All | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
Not specified |
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Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 771.3c(1) | Probationer's projected income and financial resources |
. In determining the amount of the fee, the court shall consider the probationer's projected income and financial resources. The court shall use the following table of projected monthly income + See morein determining the amount of the fee to be ordered: [table]
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All | Not provided for | Before imposition of fine or fee | Not provided for | Not provided for | Yes |
Not specified |
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