NCJ Number
115323
Date Published
1988
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This study profiles current practices regarding economic sanctions throughout the Nation and discusses successes and problems in imposing fines, fees, and special assessments.
Abstract
Twenty-one criminal justice professionals representing 10 States were interviewed, and 14 persons representing 11 States were interviewed by phone. A literature search was also conducted. Three general types of economic sanction were identified: fines, costs, and restitution (traditional penalties explicitly stated in the court's sentence of the offender); service fees (costs implicit in the court's sentence); and special assessments (costs levied automatically on every offender who comes before the court). Findings pertain to the absence of policy, revenues, collection of economic sanctions, enthusiasm for economic sanctions, and unintended consequences. Economic sanctions have typically grown without overarching, articulated values, or guiding policies. No one knows the total revenues produced by economic sanctions, but estimates by researchers go as high as two billion dollars annually. Some obstacles to the collection of economic sanctions are the lack of clear purpose for the fine, the imposition of 'uncollectible' economic sanctions, and the absence of a central information system. Some unintended consequences of multiple economic sanctions include extension of supervision time, more staff requirements, and competition by agencies for priority in payment of fees. Unresolved issues discussed in this report are guiding philosophy, avoiding inequity, penalty for nonpayment, legal questions, and the impact on community corrections. 6 worksheets, 7 references.