January 24, 2024

We are writing to express our support for the elimination of juvenile fines and fees, which is being considered in Massachusetts through provisions contained in Senate Bill 1005 and House Bill 1461. Many elements of the juvenile fines and fees elimination legislation align with our mission and, more specifically, our focus on decriminalizing poverty.

Our CEO Action for Racial Equity (CEOARE) Fellowship unites the talent and resources of more than 100 signatory organizations, many of which have a significant presence in Massachusetts, to advance equity through public policy. As such, we are committed to working with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to help bring equity, transparency, and accountability to our justice system.

Under current Massachusetts law, youth and their families are burdened with fines and fees throughout the juvenile court process, including probation, cost of care, and court costs. Many families either go into debt because they need to choose between paying these costs, or paying for basic necessities, like groceries or rent.¹ For those already experiencing poverty, these fines and fees exacerbate their situation. According to a national study, young people who can’t pay end up on probation, face additional court dates, or may not be able to get a driver’s license; these are all issues that can impact their education and ability to focus on school.² As Massachusetts has no law eliminating juvenile fines and fees, these consequences can be a burden on our workforce and our economy, possibly placing Massachusetts at a competitive disadvantage.

Many view these fines and fees as necessary to incent good behavior; however, evidence shows that juvenile justice fees do not have that desired effect. Rather, the results of these policies show that the lingering impact of unpaid fees and sheer amount of financial penalties significantly increased recidivism.³
Furthermore, research shows that fines and fees don’t work well as a revenue stream. For most jurisdictions, it costs more than a dollar to collect each dollar of outstanding court debt.⁴

Eliminating juvenile fines and fees provides Massachusetts with the opportunity to address policies that have created a cycle of debt and stress for children and their families, who may already be struggling financially. These policies allow the juvenile justice system to focus on what it was designed to do – rehabilitate. Our justice system policies should give our children a better chance of success in life, including the chance to participate in an inclusive and sustainable workforce, which can drive economic growth and development in Massachusetts.

CEO Action for Racial Equity is committed to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to enact policies that bring equity, transparency, and accountability to our justice system. We urge you to take action to eliminate juvenile fines and fees in Massachusetts and join sixteen other states that have already eliminated all juvenile fees.⁵

Sincerely,
CEO Action for Racial Equity

Citations

¹ Jessica Feireman, Naomi Goldstein, Emily Haney-Caron, and Jaymes Fairfax Columbo, “Debtors’ Prison for Kids?: The High Cost of Fines and Fees in the Juvenile Justice System” (Juvenile Law Center, 2016), http://debtorsprison.jlc.org/documents/jlc-debtors-prison.pdf.
² Friedrich, Michael. “A Nationwide Campaign to End Juvenile Fines and Fees Is Making Progress.” Arnold Ventures. Accessed January 10, 2024. https://www.arnoldventures.org/stories/a-nationwide-campaign-to-end-juvenile-fines-and-fees-is-making-progress.
³ Feireman, Goldstein, Haney-Caron, and Fairfax Columbo, “Debtors’ Prison for Kids?”, 12.
⁴ Friedrich, “A Nationwide Campaign”.
⁵ Debt Free Justice website, accessed January 11, 2024. https://debtfreejustice.org.