Target actors: Prosecutors, local and state legislators.

In some jurisdictions, charges arising from civil issues—such as driver’s license suspension, driving without valid registration or insurance, or nonpayment of child support—account for a significant portion of jail admissions. These types of charges should not be addressed through incarceration, in part because jail detention only makes it harder for people to pay the fines. Localities can take a variety of approaches in response to this issue, including creating online opportunities to vacate warrants and enter payment plans, requiring automatic pretrial release for people charged with these offenses, and supporting state-level legislative changes to end criminalization of civil issues.

Learn more:

• The Steep Costs of Criminal Justice Fees and Fines: A Fiscal Analysis of Three States and Ten Counties (Brennan Center for Justice)
• Alternatives to Incarceration (Office of Child Support Enforcement)