“Low-hanging fruit” or “blood out of a turnip”? As tax revenue slows, lawmakers in Alabama and across the United States may turn to court costs.

Sluggish tax collections could set the stage nationally for new hikes in court costs, fines, and fees. That’s according to Read the full release.  

Joint Interim Court Cost Study Commission Recommends Standardization, Transparency, and Reform to “Patchwork” System of Fees

For over a decade, PARCA has documented the role of court costs as they exist at the intersection of public Read the full release.  

Local Court Fee Increases Associated with Increased Jail Detention, New Research Finds

New research led by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) and MDRC indicates that each additional $100 in Read the full release.  

Court cost collections continue to sag

In tough budget years, lawmakers have often looked for alternative ways to bring in revenue to support state government operations. Read the full release.