“What is the price of justice? When bail is set unreasonably high, people are behind bars only because they are poor. Not because they’re a danger or a flight risk – only because they are poor.
-Attorney General Loretta Lynch

On Wednesday, December 2, 2015, judges, academia, prosecutors, public defenders, community activists and justice practitioners convened for a day-long meeting organized by the US Department of Justice to examine the impact of fines and fees in courts across America. Participants shared their experiences and developed a research and policy agenda to assist jurisdictions in reform efforts.

Following this session, The White House and US Department of Justice co-sponsored “A Cycle of Incarceration: Prison, Debt and Bail Practices,” on Thursday, December 3, 2015. The event featured commentary from a broad spectrum of perspectives including Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Grover Norquist (President, Americans for Tax Reform), researchers, individuals adversely impacted by current fines and fees practices, government officials and activists. Participant discussion examined the connection between poverty and the criminal justice system. According to the Council on Economic Affairs, “as higher levels of incarceration and law enforcement have placed budgetary pressure on states and local governments, they have increasingly turned to criminal justice payments as a source of additional revenue.” The fines and fees associated with infractions disproportionately impact low income residents.

Interested in learning more about fines and fees and proposed state reform efforts? Click the below links for more information.

• Video of the White House convening (full day here; edited version here);
• Transcript of the Attorney General’s remarks;
• Report from the President’s Council of Economic Advisors on Fees, Fines, and Bail; and

A National Journalarticle about the event.