L.A. County to Stop Collecting Old Juvenile Detention Fees, Erasing Nearly $90 Million of Families' Debt

Almost every state in the country allows youth or their families to be charged for costs of the youths’ detention, supervision or care while in custody, according to an analysis by the Juvenile Law Center, a public-interest law firm in Philadelphia.

Even after California’s ban, many counties are still collecting payment of previously assessed fees.

“The [state] legislation helps youth and families who haven’t yet experienced fines and fees, but without this kind of move at the county level, children and their families will still be struggling,” said Jessica Feierman, associate director of the Juvenile Law Center.