Florida’s Juvenile Justice Fees Result In Uncollectable Debt

Florida’s practice of charging fees to youth involved in the juvenile justice system results in uncollectable debt and undermines the rehabilitative purpose of juvenile justice programming. These were the findings of a report by the Fines and Fees Justice Center and the Juvenile Law Center. Their report called for ending juvenile justice fees.

The State of Florida levies 31 different types of court fees, costs, and surcharges on the juvenile justice system youth. Some fees are imposed when a youth is arrested, regardless of the youth’s guilt or innocence. A recent survey of juvenile defenders in Florida found . . .