Fines and Fees Are a Barrier to Criminal Record-Clearing

Report
Website
Clean Slate
Topics:
Criminal and Juvenile Records
Records Clearance, Expungement, and Sealing
Reentry population:
Adults
Date:
Source:
Center for American Progress

Fines and Fees Are a Barrier to Criminal Record-Clearing

Addressing this massive barrier to justice and severely limiting the role of fines and fees is essential to establishing a meaningful path to criminal record-clearing. Key steps to addressing these barriers include:

  • Eliminating or reducing court fines and abolishing fees
  • Supporting systems that promote transparency in the use of fines and fees
  • Allowing expungement of cases with unpaid monetary sanctions

This issue brief explores how individuals trying to clear their criminal records face enormous hurdles and challenges due to fines and fees and underscores the importance of implementing measures that will eliminate these barriers.