Court fees and fines target the poor, leaving them in a never-ending cycle of debt

Communities of color are hit the hardest by rising court fees and fines, according to a report released by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on Thursday.

The commission recommends that the Trump administration continue to discourage bad practices, such as using fines and fees to raise revenue, rather than improve public safety, because of the negative impact of the fines on low-income people and people of color.

State and local legislative bodies are responsible for setting court fines and fees for people who commit low-level crimes, such as misdemeanors and ordinance violations. According to the report, 47 states have increased these civil and criminal fees since 2010. State and local court budget reductions may play a role in increasing fees and fines.

https://thinkprogress.org/court-fees-collections-companies-58ece19be258/