Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration Recommend States Stop Charging Youth Fees and Fines

Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration represents police and prosecutors across the country who are committed to reducing incarceration while keeping down crime. In April 2021, Law Enforcement Leaders published a policy paper focused on the juvenile legal system that "urge[s] state and local governments to carefully consider strategies to promote public safety and ensure justice for local communities." One recommendation calls for states to stop charging youth fees and fines. They argue that "These unfair policies risk wasting scarce law enforcement resources, and also have long-lasting effects — they trap children in poverty and increase their risk of recidivism."