Los Angeles Will Wipe Out Nearly $90 Million Worth of Debt Incurred by Juvenile Offenders
As reported by the Los Angeles Times, research links juvenile detention fees with increased recidivism. Research from the Vera Institute of Justice suggests that the families most impacted by these fees are disproportionately poor and black.
According to Jessica Feierman, Associate Director at Juvenile Law Center, the move sets a precedent for other states.
"California has already led the way nationally by passing comprehensive legislation to eliminate harmful juvenile justice fines and fees. Yesterday's decision by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to free tens of thousands of families from any remaining court debt sets a crucial example for the rest of the country," she tells CNBC Make It. "Court fines and fees cause overwhelming economic and emotional stress to families and undermine the rehabilitative goals of the juvenile justice system."
