When going to court – or the movies – leads to change
1. United States
To address inequalities, states are reconsidering court fines and fees for juveniles. In a wide range of practices, courts impose fines as punishment and also charge fees for expenses such as court-appointed attorneys. Penalties are frequently levied regardless of an individual’s ability to pay, and they disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic youth.
But 21 states since 2017 have reduced or abolished the practice, according to the nonprofit Debt Free Justice. Six states – Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, Texas, and Washington – enacted reforms last year.
Studies have found that while monetary sanctions do not improve public safety, legal debt can increase recidivism rates among juveniles and strains those already struggling
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