COVID-19 Action on Juvenile Fees and Fines

COVID-19 has created an unprecedented public health and economic crisis, and families with youth in the juvenile justice system are among the most vulnerable.

Juvenile Law Center joins racial and economic justice advocates to call for a nationwide moratorium on juvenile fees and fines. 

States and local governments must take immediate action to mitigate harm and promote the economic resiliency of youth and families to weather the crisis.

READ THE STATEMENT HERE.

Specifically, we call on states, counties, and courts to:

• Suspend assessment and collection of juvenile fees and fines.
• Suspend all attachments, garnishments, levies, liens, redirects, and tax refund intercepts for unpaid juvenile fees and fines.
• Suspend all interest accrual, financial penalties, and other legal system consequences for nonpayment or late payment of juvenile fees and fines, including enforcement of arrest warrants for failure to pay fines and fees.
• Suspend and withdraw all referrals of unpaid juvenile fine and fee accounts to state taxing and collection authorities and private collection agencies.
• Prohibit private agencies from collecting unpaid juvenile fees and fines.
• Work to make these law and policy changes permanent.