Reforming Monetary Sanctions

Abstract

Until recently, Massachusetts incarcerated criminal justice system clients solely for nonpayment of court-imposed fines and fees. This practice disproportionately penalized disadvantaged clients, further exacerbating their legal involvement. Massachusetts passed a reform bill in 2018 restricting the types of cases eligible for this punitive sanction. These reform efforts present potential benefits for the equal treatment of clients through the application of financial waivers. However, the bill also contains certain provisions that may prevent these benefits from being fully realized. The current paper discusses the implications of these reforms and suggests future research directions and policy developments that would help ensure fairer treatment for all clients.