Texas Judicial Branch

Funds will improve information for judges on ability to pay and expand access to alternatives to payment for individuals unable to pay

The Office of Court Administration today announced that Texas has been awarded a three-year grant totaling $499,984 from the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. The funds were awarded under a grant program called “The Price of Justice: Rethinking the Consequences of Justice Fines and Fees.” Texas was one of five states to receive funds targeted to developing tools and resources to implement fair and effective policies and practices related to criminal justice financial obligations, increasing data-sharing and collaboration among agencies regarding assessment and enforcement of justice debt, supporting alternatives that promote rehabilitation, and reducing unnecessary confinement due to justice-involved individuals’ inability to pay fines, fees, and related charges. California, Louisiana, Missouri, and Washington were the other states receiving the grant funds.

The Texas project will involve the development of a web-based ability-to-pay tool that will collect available data from various sources to inform judges about the ability of a convicted defendant to pay court costs, fines and other fees. The project will also involve the development of an online tool to connect individuals needing to satisfy court costs, fines and other fees but unable to pay with alternative options such as community service. The project will increase education to judges and court staff on determining ability to pay and best practices for connecting individuals with alternative options when appropriate.

“The Texas judiciary has long been recognized as a leader in ensuring that individuals assessed court costs, fines, and fees are held accountable for those obligations while working with individuals who do not have an ability to pay are provided options for that payment,” said Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht. “However, judges have done so without reliable tools to determine an individual’s ability to pay or methods to connect individuals with appropriate community service options. This grant will allow Texas’ judges to have appropriate information in making these important decisions.”

Last year Texas’ courts disposed of almost 8 million criminal cases and collected over $1 billion in criminal court costs, fines and other fees. While most of the assessed criminal obligations were satisfied through payment of those costs, nineteen percent of the assessments were satisfied through jail credit and two percent through alternate methods of satisfaction like community service. Only one percent of assessments was waived.

“The judges in Texas have been focusing intently on ensuring that individuals can successfully satisfy their legal financial obligations and that those without an ability to pay are provided alternative methods to satisfy their criminal justice obligations, where appropriate. We are excited today to announce that those judges will soon have tools available to them that will make that job a little easier. We are also excited about the ability to make it easier for citizens needing to satisfy their obligations a simpler way to find alternative options when that is appropriate,” said David Slayton, Administrative Director of the Texas Office of Court Administration.