Testing the impact of juvenile justice fee repeal on outcomes for young people and their families.

Juvenile justice agencies often charge administrative fees to offset the cost of young peoples’ attorneys, detention, and probation supervision. Typically, the financial burden of these fees falls to parents or guardians. In theory, these fees could increase family debt, stress, and conflict — compromising support systems and other protective factors against delinquency. In reality, little is known about the impact of fees on young people and their families.

California recently repealed county’s authority to charge administrative fees for children’s involvement in the juvenile justice system.  In partnership with Alameda County Probation and the California Policy Lab, we’re studying the impact of fee repeal on families’ financial health and young people’s chances of success on probation.