Examining the Impact of Justice System Fee Repeal and Financial Sanctions: A Comprehensive Analysis

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

This panel brings together diverse perspectives to explore the multifaceted impacts of repealing financial sanctions within the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Drawing on empirical research and qualitative insights, our panelists shed light on the complex interplay between financial burdens, recidivism, probation outcomes, and family dynamics. The first paper delves into quantitative analysis, revealing that while Alameda County's fee repeal effectively reduces financial burdens and probation lengths, its impact on recidivism remains marginal. Conversely, the second paper presents qualitative findings illustrating how fee repeal improves participants' economic stability, mental well-being, and long-term prospects. Shifting the focus to juvenile justice, we examine the repercussions of fee repeal on families and youth, highlighting decreased financial burdens and probation durations without substantial impacts on recidivism. Finally, a meta-analysis synthesizes data from state-level reforms, illustrating the substantial benefits of fee repeal and debt discharge in the juvenile legal system. Collectively, these studies offer comprehensive insights into the complex interplay between fee repeal, financial sanctions, and justice-involved individuals' outcomes. They underscore the importance of policy reforms in reducing financial burdens and advancing debt-free advocacy efforts within the justice system while signaling the necessity for further research to optimize reform effectiveness.

Sub Unit

• Area VI. The Criminal Justice System / 50. Challenging Criminal Justice Policies

Individual Presentations

• Effects of Criminal Justice Financial Sanctions and Fee Repeal on Justice-Involved Individuals’ Financial Burden, Recidivism, and Probation Outcomes – Alameda County Adult Fee Repeal 2018 - Luyi Jian, University of California, Berkeley; Jaclyn Chambers, Urban Institute; Sharon Farrell, University of California, Berkeley; Jennifer Skeem, University of California, Berkeley

• People’s Perceptions of the Impact of Removing Criminal Justice Fees – Alameda County Adult Fee Repeal 2018 - Sharon Farrell, University of California, Berkeley; Jennifer Skeem, University of California, Berkeley

• Testing the Impact of Juvenile Justice Fees on Probation Outcomes, and Families’ Financial Health – Alameda County Juvenile Fee Repeal 2016 - Jennifer Skeem, University of California, Berkeley; Luyi Jian, University of California, Berkeley; Jaclyn Chambers, Urban Institute; Lina Montoya, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Meta-analysis of Youth and Family Benefits of Fee Repeal and Debt Discharge in the Juvenile Legal System - Jeff Selbin, University of California, Berkeley

Discussant

• Bryan L. Sykes, Cornell University