In addition to donating to our fund, please consider the following:

Call Your State Legislature

Many state legislatures are considering bills to limit criminal fines and fees. Here is a database of such legislative proposals. Here is a database of state legislators and their contact information. We urge you to call your state representatives and ask for their support in passing these bills that will limit or eliminate criminal fines and fees.

Raise Awareness

Despite increased awareness of mass incarceration and the failures of our criminal legal system, many Americans remain unaware of the countless ways in which criminal fines and fees harm individuals and their communities. Therefore, raising awareness about criminal debt and its associated harms can be a productive first step toward change. To that end, there are several shareable resources available on the internet. We recommend exploring this 50-State Survey on Criminal Justice Debt, the Clearinghouse at the Fines and Fees Justice Center, and this Resource Guide from the United States Department of Justice. Start discussing this issue with your friends and family over dinner or on social media.

Litigate

If you are an attorney interested in addressing the issue of criminal fines and fees, there is ample opportunity for strategic litigation in this area. Here are some examples of cases challenging criminal fines and fees. Consider expanding your pro bono practice to include criminal fines and fees litigation.

Vote

Many states like Alabama, Florida, Arizona, and Virginia condition the restoration of voting rights on repayment of criminal debt. Therefore, in many jurisdictions, the most financially vulnerable are unable to vote. Voting for representatives who oppose these disenfranchisement laws and who represent the interests of the disenfranchised can alleviate the harm imposed by criminal fines and fees. We urge you to vote in local and state elections.

Together, we can help end incarceration for inability to pay.