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.
