Justice Department Issues Dear Colleague Letter to Courts Regarding Fines and Fees for Youth and Adults

The Justice Department today issued a Dear Colleague Letter for state and local courts and juvenile justice agencies regarding the imposition and enforcement of fines and fees for adults and youth. The Letter addresses common court-imposed fines and fees practices, and cautions against those practices that may be unlawful, unfairly penalize individuals who are unable to pay, or otherwise have a discriminatory effect. The Department provides this Letter as part of its ongoing commitment to fairness, economic justice, and combatting the policies that disproportionately contribute to justice system involvement for low-income communities.