A new report on Jefferson County’s fines and fees system argues that U.S. courts’ reliance on monetary sanctions is ineffective at generating revenue and disproportionately harmful to Black and low-income residents, prompting action from Jefferson County officials and the creation of a statewide task force to review fines and fees policies.
The Everyday Injustice podcast discusses the detrimental effects of court fines and fees, which create a “hidden tax” on low-income communities and destabilize government budgets, with experts from the Fines and Fees Justice Center calling for sustainable, equitable funding to replace the current system.
The Fines and Fees Justice Center report warns that government reliance on court fines and fees is both unjust and financially unstable, creating lasting harm for individuals and undermining public budgets.
A national report from the Fines and Fees Justice Center has exposed a “shadow debt system” that destabilizes state and local budgets while punishing low-income individuals with court-imposed fines and fees, and recommends the elimination of justice system fees, discharging old uncollectable court debt, and improving transparency and data collection.
The Boston City Council has voted to adopt a resolution endorsing the Road to Opportunity Act, which would eliminate driver’s license suspensions for unpaid debts unrelated to road safety and provide waiver and reduction programs based on income.
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