The Burden of Supervision Fees for Individuals on Probation

• In Event: Mass Probation and Inequality: Disparities and the Experience of Supervision

Abstract

The presentation will focus on supervision fees and other program fees that probationers are routinely given as a condition of their probation. These fees can be significant burdens for probationers because they often have limited income and limited employment opportunities. The presentation will present findings from a mixed-method study that examined two main research questions: 1) How much are supervision fees for probationers and what are the consequences for not paying those fees? 2) What are the impacts of supervision fees on probationers? To answer the first question quantitative data on probationer fees were analyzed to understand the amount of fees and how many probationers were revoked for not paying their fees. The second question was analyzed through qualitative interviews with probationers and probation officers. The presentation will present findings from this study followed by a discussion of the implications for practice and policy.

Authors

• Ebony Ruhland, Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice at the University of Minnesota Law School

• Jason Robey, Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, at the University of Minnesota Law School

• Ron Corbett, Robina Institute