"A lot of advocates view [court fees] as a regressive tax... charging the people who need to have access to the courts."

"You could see that there could be a perverse incentive created where someone is convicted, for example, of a traffic violation . . . there's a small amount of that [fee] that goes towards the Law Enforcement Retirement Fund.'

- Quisha Mallette, Community Advocate, Reinvestment Partners

Fees are only supposed to recoup costs in the criminal justice system, but if you’re poor, they’re a punishment.