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Decriminalizing Poverty

Focused on policies related to an individual’s ability to pay fines, fees, or bail, which should not be the sole reason for incarceration or cause for additional judicial consequences.

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Focused on policies related to an individual’s ability to pay fines, fees, or bail, which should not be the sole reason for incarceration or cause for additional judicial consequences.

Resources

Businesses in Support for the End Predatory Court Fees Act PDF

PDF Date published: March 2024 Size: 296.0 KB
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Date published: March 2024 Size: 296.0 KB

Document advocates for the End Predatory Court Fees Act in New York, the elimination of justice related fees and details including an economic analysis of the current state of minimum wage workers.

Testimony in Support of Elimination of Juvenile Fines and Fees in Michigan PDF

PDF Date published: September 2023 Size: 191.1 KB
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Date published: September 2023 Size: 191.1 KB

Document advocating for the passage of Michigan Senate Bills 428-431, eliminating juvenile fines and fees.

Letter to Illinois Legislature Supporting House Bill 0277, Eliminating Driver’s License Suspensions for Failure to Appear PDF

PDF Date published: May 2023 Size: 86.8 KB
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Date published: May 2023 Size: 86.8 KB

Letter to the Illinois Legislature advocates for the passage of Illinois House Bill 0277, eliminating the driver’s license suspensions for failure to appear in traffic court.

Letter to Illinois General Assembly Supporting Elimination of Juvenile Fines and Fees PDF

PDF Date published: March 2023 Size: 103.0 KB
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Date published: March 2023 Size: 103.0 KB

Letter to the Illinois General Assembly advocates for the passage of SB1463 and HB3120 elimination of juvenile fines and fees.

Letter Supporting Ohio Pretrial Bill PDF

PDF Date published: May 2022 Size: 106.1 KB
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Date published: May 2022 Size: 106.1 KB

Document advocates for Ohio House Bill 315, which aims to reform pretrial bail practices to reduce unnecessary incarceration, promote economic stability, and address racial disparities in the justice system.

Letter to Michigan House of Representatives in Support of the Juvenile Justice Bills PDF

PDF Date published: March 2022 Size: 106.1 KB
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Date published: March 2022 Size: 106.1 KB

Document advocates the passage of Michigan House Bills 4987-4991, eliminating juvenile justice fees.

Decriminalizing Poverty Issues One-Pager PDF

PDF Date published: November 2021 Size: 112.9 KB
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Date published: November 2021 Size: 112.9 KB

Document outlining the Fellowship’s policy positions on decriminalizing poverty through reforms in fines, fees, cash bail, and debt-based driver’s license suspensions, and providing companies with strategies to support equitable public safety policies that enhance societal well-being and economic growth.

Letter for Michigan Pretrial Reform PDF

PDF Date published: October 2021 Size: 142.6 KB
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Date published: October 2021 Size: 142.6 KB

Document advocates for pretrial reform in Michigan, urging the legislature to eliminate wealth-based detention and modernize pretrial policies to promote fairness, protect individual rights, and achieve significant economic benefits.

Letter in Support of the Driving for Opportunity Act PDF

PDF Date published: July 2021 Size: 107.5 KB
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Date published: July 2021 Size: 107.5 KB

Letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee supporting the passage of the Driving for Opportunity Act of 2021, highlighting the negative impacts of debt-based driver’s license suspensions on low-income and minority communities and urging legislative action to promote economic equity and public safety.

Letter to the Florida Legislature Supporting the Debt-Free Justice for Children Act PDF

PDF Date published: January 2021 Size: 111.8 KB
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Date published: January 2021 Size: 111.8 KB

Letter to the Florida legislature advocating for the passage of the Debt-Free Justice for Children Act, emphasizing the need to eliminate juvenile court fees that disproportionately impact low-income and Black families.

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