Advocacy Tools
Our tools are built upon the lived experiences of those affected by fees and fines and the research that tracks the negative impacts families face. Use these resources to help pass laws and change policy in your state.
We all have the power to make a direct impact on youth and their families.
The Debt Free Justice campaign provides resources for advocates working at the local, state and federal levels to abolish youth fees and fines. Here you'll find research, sample litigation, outreach assistance, legal expertise and more.
Featured Resources
Every resource you find here is a tool to add to your advocacy toolbox. This is a community effort: use the resources, share them, and contribute your own to the knowledge base.
How to Pass a Bill
Juvenile Fee Abolition in California: Lessons and Challenges for the Debt-Free Justice Movement
How Carceral Debt Affects the Black Community
Dreams Deferred: The Impact of Juvenile Fees on Florida's Children, Families, and Future
DFJ Campaign Messaging Toolkit
Contribute To Our Resource Bank
Do you have resources that other advocates would find useful? When you make an account, you can easily submit resources to appear in our collection.
Advocate With Stories
Stories can change a system. Learn about the experiences of system-impacted youth, their families, and advocates working this unjust practice.
Your Story Can Make Change
With your expertise, and our expertise, we can build a community that's loud enough to shake the room.
Data
Data is a powerful advocacy tool that can demonstrate the negative impact of fines and fees, the depth of the problem, and what progress has been made to abolish the practice.
This data has been vetted by the Debt Free Justice team and is available for your use.
| State | State Progress | Active Bills | Active Campaigns | Ongoing Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Alaska | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Arizona | Eliminated All Fees |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Arkansas | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| California | Eliminated All Fees |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Colorado | Eliminated All Fees |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Connecticut | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Delaware | Eliminated All Fees and Fines |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Florida | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Georgia | Local Action Taken |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Hawaii | Local Action Taken |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Idaho | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Illinois | Eliminated All Fees and Fines |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Indiana | Eliminated Some Fees and Fines |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Iowa | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Kansas | Local Action Taken |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Kentucky | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Louisiana | Eliminated All Fees |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Maine | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Maryland | Eliminated All Fees and Fines |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Massachusetts | Introduced Legislation |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Michigan | Introduced Legislation |
4 |
0 |
0 |
| Minnesota | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Mississippi | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Missouri | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Montana | Eliminated All Fees and Fines |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Nebraska | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Nevada | Eliminated All Fees |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| New Hampshire | Eliminated Some Fees |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| New Jersey | Eliminated All Fees and Fines |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| New Mexico | Eliminated All Fees and Fines |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| New York | Eliminated All Fees and Fines |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| North Carolina | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| North Dakota | Eliminated All Fines |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Ohio | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Oklahoma | Eliminated Some Fees |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Oregon | Eliminated All Fees and Fines |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Pennsylvania | Introduced Legislation |
2 |
0 |
1 |
| Rhode Island | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| South Carolina | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| South Dakota | Capped Some Fines |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Tennessee | Local Action Taken |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Texas | Eliminated All Fees |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Utah | Eliminated Some Fees |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Vermont | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Virginia | Eliminated Some Fees |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Washington | Eliminated All Fees and Fines |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Washington, D.C. | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| West Virginia | No Action Yet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Wisconsin | Local Action Taken |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Wyoming | Local Action Taken |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Looking for State-Specific Data?
Go to our State Profiles page to find your state. There you'll find information and data about what is happening in your area.