The harms of fines and fees on families have been well-documented, but families aren’t the only ones liable to be hurt. Governments that maintain these policies as “business as usual” are throwing valuable financial resources towards often fruitless debt collection, risking the stability of their budgets. With funding cuts rolling out across the country and legislative sessions beginning in January, now is the time for policymakers and reform advocates to understand the full fiscal impact of their state’s existing fine and fee policies — and the budgetary relief governments can see by enacting reform. Join us for a timely conversation exploring how to measure the full cost of maintaining the fines and fees status quo in order to champion meaningful, effective reform.

This brief examines the prevalence of fines and fees and people’s ability to pay them in a time of fiscal uncertainty.