NCJ Number
251361
Date Published
2017
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This report discusses the rationale for and the features of the U.S. Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance's (BJA's) 2016 initiative called The Price of Justice: Rethinking the Consequences of Justice Fines and Fees."
Abstract
This initiative will address an issue of growing national concern, i.e., the appropriate role and limits of fines and fees in the justice system. Under a competitive process, BJA selected five states - California, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas, and Washington State - to receive grants of approximately $500,000 each for the purpose of achieving reform in policies and practices for fines and fees in their justice systems. Guidelines for these five states are 1) to implement fair and effective policies and practices for fines and fees; 2) increase collaboration and data-sharing among criminal justice agencies regarding the imposition, collection, use, and tracking of fines and fees; 3) develop or improve alternatives to fines and fees; and 4) eliminate unnecessary incarceration for nonpayment of fines and fees. This report outlines the problem and proposed solution regarding fines and fees in each of the five states.