From Fines and Fees Justice Center:
Executive Summary
Since its founding in 2018, the Fines and Fees Justice Center (FFJC) has successfully led the campaigns for, or actively supported, 73 separate pieces of legislation that ended or significantly reformed 135 fine and fee policies nationwide. This report measures the direct financial relief that has resulted from those reforms.
Conservatively, we estimate that these reforms provided at least $37.5 billion in financial relief - money that people can now spend to support themselves, their families and their communities.
Our criminal justice system is rife with fines and fees that state and local governments impose in order to generate revenue. Individuals and families saddled with fines and fees face severe consequences if they cannot afford to pay them, including additional financial penalties, driver’s license suspensions, arrest, and jail. People living paycheck-to-paycheck and communities of color are disproportionately impacted, but anyone who misses just one payment can be trapped in an endless cycle of debt and punishment.
When these fine and fee policies are reformed or eliminated, the ensuing financial relief helps stabilize families, address racial wealth disparities, and increase opportunities.
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