SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner is pleased to be in attendance at a summit today hosted by the White House and the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. called “A Cycle of Incarceration: Prison, Debt and Bail Practices.” This event was designed to bring public attention to the disproportionate impact that high fines and fees in the criminal justice system have on the poor. The White House Council of Economic Advisers also released an issue brief exploring the economic inefficiency of fines, fees and bail in particular situations as well as the disproportionate impact such sanctions can have on the poor.
U.S. Attorney Wagner stated, “The inability of many poor people to pay high fines, fees and bail for minor infractions can have disastrous consequences both for them and for society. For individuals, it can result in the loss of a driver's license, the loss of a job, increasing debt, incarceration and a criminal record. For society, it can lead to costly incarceration of many indigent persons for minor offenses. This conference is focused on identifying and reforming the complex web of practices within the criminal justice system that can trap the poor in a cycle of noncompliance and punishment, in order to create a fairer and more efficient justice system.”
Today’s event follows an event the Justice Department hosted on Wednesday that addressed the effect and fairness of fees and fines. The department convened judges, academics and practitioners to develop a research and policy agenda that will inform jurisdictions in their efforts to reform court practices.
Participants in the conference heard from judges, court administrators, academics, experts and others about the impact of excessive fines and fees in minor cases, and various efforts to reform justice systems, including in California. Three citizens described years of entanglement with the justice systems of Alabama, Michigan and Missouri, including suspended drivers licenses, lost jobs, incarceration and homelessness, all originating from unpaid fines for minor infractions.
Additional information about this issue can be found at http://go.usa.gov/cBahC.