Press Release
BOSTON — The State Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight has completed a first-of-its-kind investigation of “fine time” in Massachusetts — the practice by district court judges of incarcerating defendants solely for failure to pay fines, fees or court costs.
State Sen. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), Chair of the Committee, called the findings “eye-opening.” He and Committee staff identified 105 instances of fine time in 2015 in just three Massachusetts counties — Essex, Plymouth and Worcester. In 60% of the cases, the defendant had at some point been verified as indigent; ten were described as unemployed; five, as homeless. Yet all 105 individuals were imprisoned for failure to pay fees and fines.
Read more