Kansas Appleseed and Juvenile Law Center Release Joint Report on Wasteful Juvenile Fees and Fines Policy
The advocacy organizations point to the dire need to change the ineffective, costly practice of assessing fees and fines to youth in the justice system.
(Topeka, KS) – Today, Kansas Appleseed and Juvenile Law Center, both advocacy organizations focused on children in the justice and child welfare systems, released an analysis of the statewide collection of juvenile fees and fines in Kansas. The organizations found that the collection yields little money to counties but takes up tremendous resources and harms children and families. Additionally, the report found that counties are leaving funds on the table that could be used for the same purposes.
“Harmful fees and fines children in the justice system face push them further into poverty and into the system,” said Alisa Hoban, Dean F. Johnson Fellow at Juvenile Law Center. “That’s why state after state is dropping this wrongheaded practice.”
In recent years, states nationwide have eliminated fees and fines for children in the justice system. This state policy change can be seen here. Legislation has again been introduced in this year’s session that would lead to policy changes that are efficient for both young people and the bottom line. HB 2179 and SB 111 give Kansas lawmakers the chance to support policies that lead to better outcomes for our communities.
“As we move into the new legislative session, it is imperative that Kansas lawmakers take a look at the policies that not only harm families and communities but also are costly and inefficient,” said Mike Fonkert, Deputy Director at Kansas Appleseed. “Other states such as Arizona, Louisiana, Texas, and Michigan have made moves to end this wasteful practice – it is time for Kansas to join them and pass sensible legislation to end juvenile fees and fines.”
To read the full report, learn more here.
###
About Juvenile Law Center: Juvenile Law Center fights for rights, dignity, equity, and opportunity for youth. We work to reduce the harm of the child welfare and justice systems, limit their reach, and ultimately abolish them so all young people can thrive. Founded in 1975, Juvenile Law Center was the first nonprofit, public interest law firm for children in the country. As an advocacy organization we now use multiple approaches to accomplish our mission: legal advocacy, policy advocacy. youth-led advocacy, and strategic communications. We strive to ensure that laws, policies, and practices affecting youth advance racial and economic equity and are consistent with children’s unique developmental characteristics and human dignity. For more information about Juvenile Law Center’s work, visit www.JLC.org.
About Kansas Appleseed: is a statewide organization that believes Kansans, working together, can build a state full of thriving, inclusive, and just communities. We conduct policy research and analysis and work with communities and partners to understand the root causes of problems and advocate for comprehensive solutions. For more information, please visit www.kansasappleseed.org.
