May 19, 2021–Due Process Institute joined a bipartisan coalition urging the Colorado State Assembly to pass House Bill 1315 to end the assessment and collection of juvenile fees and costs. These fees include charges for public defender applications, genetic testing, restorative justice programs, miscellaneous court costs, late payment fees, and come with harsh penalties and other negative consequences for nonpayment.
These are a regressive tax on vulnerable Coloradans, create additional barriers for youth and families, and trap them in cycles of debt and court involvement. Furthermore, juvenile fees are linked to higher recidivism rates and undermine community safety and youth rehabilitation. By ending juvenile fees that only push youth deeper into the criminal legal system, Colorado would achieve common-sense justice reform while also benefiting from long-term fiscal savings.