SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
A growing body of research confirms what many low-income families have long known: when court fines and fees are set at realistic levels, people are far more likely to pay them. A recent five-year study examining Jefferson County’s court system makes that reality clear — and the findings have implications far beyond one county.
According to the research, nearly 42% of people assessed court fines and fees paid nothing at all. Not because they refused, but because the amounts were simply unaffordable. For those officially deemed indigent, only 16% were able to fully pay off their court debt, compared to 50% of people who were not considered indigent.
The problem worsens over time. Initial balances, often around $1,200, routinely grow due to added penalties — including a 30% collections fee imposed on unpaid debt. That means a $1,000 fine quickly becomes $1,300, pushing payment even further out of reach. After five years, many balances balloon to more than $3,500…