Justice fees are sentencing millions of families to a lifetime of debt.

Justice fees are hidden taxes that governments charge at multiple points of interaction with the criminal justice system, regardless of your guilt or innocence. These fees are attached to minor traffic tickets, ‘free’ public defenders, and even emergency medical care when you’re in jail. Their sole purpose is to raise revenue for governments.

If you can’t afford to pay these fees, you risk license suspension, arrest, and jail. People living paycheck-to-paycheck and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by fees, but anyone who misses just one payment can be trapped in a cycle of debt and punishment.

End Justice Fees is the first national campaign dedicated to ending fees in the justice system and putting money back in the pockets of working families.

Learn more about the campaign
Is your state or municipality imposing justice fees?

Explore our national fee survey maps to see which states have authorized supervision fees, electronic monitoring fees, warrant fees and more. You’ll also see examples of how fees are being charged at the state and local level.

See where your state stands
Dozens of states and localities are driving fee elimination reform

Across the nation multiple states and localities are choosing to end justice system fees and eliminate their associated debt. View our reform map and legislation list to read more about recently passed reforms and pending legislation.

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Resources

Are you ready to start thinking about fee reform in your community? Do you want to learn more about the problem of fees across the nation? Visit our resources page.

News & Commentary
Nevada Ends Exploitative Incarceration Costs While Laying Groundwork for Future Misdemeanor Reform

FFJC Nevada together with our key partners across the state were able to successfully pass significant fine and fee reform in the 2023 legislative session with bipartisan support from the Democratic controlled legislature and newly elected Republican governor. We also thwarted efforts to impose new fees in the criminal legal system and set the groundwork for future misdemeanor reform

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Press Release: New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham Signs Groundbreaking Fee Elimination Bill Into Law

Last night, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed HB 139, which eliminates the post-adjudication and bench warrant fees that have recently become the subject of a national movement to end the criminalization of poverty.

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Hidden Taxes Don’t Belong Anywhere, Least of All in Our Justice System

Picture this: On your way home from work after a long week, you’re pulled over and issued a ticket for rolling through a stop sign. The fine is $75 — but once mandatory fees are tacked on, the ticket’s total cost is over $300.

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Are you or your organization interested in joining the coalition to end fees in the justice system? Get in touch.

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End Justice Fees
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