June 16, 2021–Due Process Institute joined a letter with bipartisan and national organizations calling for the passage of Senate Bill 817 to abolish juvenile court fees in Oregon. These fees and fines – costs and monetary sanctions imposed on youth and families for the youth’s involvement in the juvenile delinquency system – operate in part as a regressive tax but generate little to no net revenue, collecting them at low rates with high costs.
Studies consistently show that juvenile fees and fines create barriers for youth and families, trapping them in cycles of debt and court involvement. Further, fees and fines are linked to higher recidivism rates and lower positive social spending, undermining community safety and rehabilitation.