2018 NLADA Annual Conference--Resilient Justice

As local governments increasingly shift the costs of the criminal justice system onto those who pass through the courts, people in poor communities who are assessed fines, fees, or costs for low-level violations and criminal convictions are caught in a devastating cycle. What begins as a $200 fine can spiral into thousands of dollars of debt, leading to abusive collection tactics, arrest, and jail. Meanwhile, for-profit corporations make millions by contracting with cities to collect court debt. Legal aid attorneys are uniquely positioned to help fight these abuses. This panel will focus on the constitutional and consumer law principles we can use to advocate for court debtors. We’ll highlight recent developments in the field, address strategies for—and common barriers to—bringing affirmative challenges, identify tools and strategies attorneys in LSC-funded programs can use, and discuss efforts to help individuals reduce or eliminate their court debt.