The Fines and Fees Justice Center (FFJC) is a national hub for research, advocacy, and collaboration for the reform of fines and fees.https://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mvnlb42b5c2sLast week, FFJC joined forces with the CATO Institute on an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case Jouppi v. Alaska. In our brief, we argue that the forfeiture of Mr. Jouppi’s plane is an unconstitutional excessive fine – something the 8th amendment was created to protect against.16 Sep 2026 16:39 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvnlb42b5c2shttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mvirozdza22sIn Winston County, AL, people are being sent to jail for not paying their garbage bills. The county is using the criminal system to collect civil debt. The SPLC is fighting back by challenging the county and asking for criminal cases to end. Learn more: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/sc/south-carolina/news/2026/08/31/splc-challenges-winston-county-s-handling-of-unpaid-garbage-bills14 Sep 2026 18:50 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvirozdza22shttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mvavoxozl224This week, DE Gov. Meyer signed House Bill 133 into law, giving state courts discretion to waive fines and fees when someone lacks the ability to pay. The bill also creates an avenue for relief from already assigned fines and fees.11 Sep 2026 15:41 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvavoxozl224https://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mv3va6obgs26Fees are a regressive tax meant to push the cost of the system on to those who can least afford it. Fines are meant to be a punishment, but they punish people differently depending on their financial status. Learn more about fines and fees by visiting our website ➡️ finesandfeesjusticecenter.org09 Sep 2026 15:49 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv3va6obgs26https://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mupnkecmmk26The Free to Drive campaign has unlocked a staggering $15.6 BILLION in financial relief! That’s enough to send more than 326,000 students to a four-year university.04 Sep 2026 19:00 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mupnkecmmk26https://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mup6c7glbk26Todd Sidesinger's death exposes the injustice of jailing people for unpaid fines/fees. Jail doesn't fix financial struggles—it worsens them. Co-Executive Director Priya Sarathy Jones discusses this tragedy and the need for reform on the LegalAF podcast.04 Sep 2026 14:27 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mup6c7glbk26https://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mufllkahpk2tWhat is the long-term economic impact of an arrest or conviction record? The Clean Slate Initiative’s new report, The Economic Losses from Arrest and Conviction Records, puts numbers behind what people with records have long experienced:31 Aug 2026 18:58 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mufllkahpk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mu5uc7qwss2tFFJC’s Joanna Weiss explains why driver’s license suspensions for unpaid fines are unjust. Driving privileges should be limited only for dangerous driving, not court debt. Read more: https://finesandfeesjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TheCostWeNoLongerPay_04_2026-1.pdf28 Aug 2026 17:12 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5uc7qwss2thttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mtz42ae2tc2tWomen disproportionately bear the brunt of fine and fee debt, taking on payments for family members or keeping the family running while a loved one is incarcerated. The current system disadvantages women; fine and fee reform presents a solution.26 Aug 2026 19:48 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtz42ae2tc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mttyodqh3k2tOn a recent episode of the @legalafmtn.bsky.social podcast, FFJC co-founder and co-executive director Joanna Weiss discussed our most recent report, The Cost We No Longer Pay. 💰Communities have retained at least $37.5 billion across 73 pieces of fine and fee reform legislation.24 Aug 2026 19:04 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mttyodqh3k2thttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mtm2kbnrd22fHuge congrats to New Mexico Supreme Court Justice C. Shannon Bacon for receiving the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence. Justice Bacon has been at the forefront of eliminating court fines and fees in criminal and traffic cases and ending driver’s license suspensions in NM.21 Aug 2026 15:16 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtm2kbnrd22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mthg7needk2cOklahoma is proving justice fees don't work. HB 1460 eliminated 6 fees, stabilizing budgets & easing burdens on residents. Learn more in Sarah’s blog with Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform: https://okjusticereform.org/blog/fee-elimination-uplifts-public-safety-and-improves-government19 Aug 2026 19:02 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mthg7needk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mtezsloezs2cStay ahead of the curve on fine & fee reform! 📢 Get the latest news, research and tools delivered straight to your inbox. Join our community today by subscribing to our newsletter: finesandfeesjusticecenter.org18 Aug 2026 20:15 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtezsloezs2chttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mt2klw5grk2cThe results speak for themselves: The End Justice Fees campaign has delivered $549.1 million in financial relief to families and communities. That’s equivalent to a full year of rent for over 30,000 people—30,000 neighbors who can now prioritize groceries and housing over court debt.14 Aug 2026 16:16 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt2klw5grk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3msvovtnifk25The devastating effects of court debt can harm every facet of life—from housing and food security to driver's license suspensions and even loss of life. No one should be incarcerated for an inability to pay court fees. Learn more: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2026/08/08/money-court-fee-pennsylvania-fine12 Aug 2026 17:50 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvovtnifk25https://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3msqtzhghp22mKudos to @ucberkeleylaw.bsky.social’s Policy Advocacy Clinic (PAC) for helping end juvenile fines and fees in 18 states. Their work has stopped $61 million in annual fees and discharged $783 million in debt, breaking the cycle for youth. Learn more about PAC here: tinyurl.com/4zp6kwxn https://tinyurl.com/4zp6kwxn10 Aug 2026 19:38 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3msqtzhghp22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3msdy5g3lfc2uThe negative impacts of these costs can last a lifetime. FFJC Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director Joanna Weiss recently attended the Women’s Justice Conference, hosted by the @counciloncj.org’s Women’s Justice Commission and Jobs for the Future, to hear directly from impacted women05 Aug 2026 16:47 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3msdy5g3lfc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mrpqxm3qjs2k“It’s like trying to squeeze blood from a stone,” said FFJC’s Lillian Patil. Relying on fines and fees to fund the government is unstable, unreliable, and inefficient. Read more about this misguided approach to balancing budgets in a new article by @pewresearch.org 👉https://tinyurl.com/3pfjmwpk28 Jul 2026 15:45 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrpqxm3qjs2khttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mrdjijjlcc2jRelying on fine and fee revenue for balancing budgets is bad policy. The failed deal between Chicago and Bank of America shows the volatility of public budgets dependent on revenue from court debt.23 Jul 2026 19:00 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrdjijjlcc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mr6gyhxh7325The city of Chicago’s failed attempt to sell off parking ticket debt to a private bank shows why cities cannot depend on fines and fees revenue to balance their budgets.21 Jul 2026 18:31 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr6gyhxh7325https://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mqu6aioi5l25Driver's license suspensions for unpaid traffic fines do far more harm than good. By stripping individuals of their ability to drive to work, the system actively prevents them from earning the income necessary to resolve their court debt.17 Jul 2026 16:28 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqu6aioi5l25https://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mqpd2kfhal25WIN FOR ILLINOIS FAMILIES: Last month, Illinois enacted a new law ensuring incarcerated people and their loved ones cannot be charged any fees that exceed the standard postage rate for mail and scanning services.15 Jul 2026 18:11 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqpd2kfhal25https://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mqkiga72hc25Todd Sidesinger was taken to jail for unpaid court costs and fees in February 2024. Within 48 hours, he was dead. Todd’s court debt totaled about $1,500. According to his family, Sidesinger was unaware of his outstanding debt and would’ve paid it if he’d known about it.13 Jul 2026 20:04 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqkiga72hc25https://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mq5undlzn32aThe harms of fines and fees hit rural communities hard; there are often fewer job opportunities, higher rates of poverty than urban areas, and higher percentages of people who need to drive to access basic needs.08 Jul 2026 19:38 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq5undlzn32ahttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mq3gwgurl22a“We know that if you allow people to talk to their loved ones, and to have constant communication, that we have better outcomes. And if the people of Nevada want to have a prison system that keeps them safe, they need to demand this type of investment.”07 Jul 2026 20:27 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq3gwgurl22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mpm52pcank2gOur goal at FFJC is to break the link between money and justice. When that happens, people have the opportunity to spend their money on the things that matter to them and not on funding government functions.01 Jul 2026 18:21 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpm52pcank2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mph55f3oyc2gOur newest report, The Cost We No Longer Pay, tallies up the amount of financial relief achieved through 73 pieces of legislation that ended or significantly reformed 135 fine and fee policies nationwide.29 Jun 2026 18:39 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mph55f3oyc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mp7gmduf7s2gThis week, we celebrate the passing of AZ HB2265, a landmark new bill that #EndsJusticeFees for a person’s right to a public defender, appeal, and trial by jury.26 Jun 2026 17:07 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp7gmduf7s2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3mp2gztpkwm24At a time when households are falling short of economic security, and 1 in 3 people over the last decade is impacted by fines & fees, creating this level of financial relief through fine & fee reform is a powerful way to ensure that families can preserve their income to afford their basic needs.24 Jun 2026 17:31 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp2gztpkwm24https://bsky.app/profile/finesandfeesjc.bsky.social/post/3movpsem3os24“In America, there should not be concurrently operating justice systems – one for those rich enough to pay for justice, and another for the rest of us.”22 Jun 2026 20:25 +0000at://did:plc:wcaq6g52lyhex7txdtf7ilxv/app.bsky.feed.post/3movpsem3os24