It is Costly to Charge Youth and Families Fees and Fines

Using findings from Arizona, California, Louisiana, Montana, and Oregon, this factsheet shows that it is costly to charge youth and families fees and fines, because:

• Collection costs outweigh revenue;
• Collection rates are low and decrease with time;
• Taxpayer money is wasted on collections; and
• Fees generate costly collateral consequences for families and communities.