June 25, 2019 - PHENND
Please join the Philadelphia Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity for their Barriers to Re-Entry: Fines, Fees and the Criminalization of Poverty Event
Date: July 19, 2019
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: United Way, 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
Description: Criminal court fines and fees are a significant barrier to re-entry for justice-involved individuals. While they exist on the principle that the cost of criminal justice should be shared by those in the system, according the San Francisco’s Financial Justice Project, “Steep fines and fees can be a ‘lose-lose’ for citizens and for government. Research has shown that fines and fees that are levied on people with modest incomes are often high pain (hitting poor people particularly hard) but low gain, bringing in less revenue than expected.” At this round-table we will discuss the impact of fines and fees, and will hear about alternatives currently being implemented by other municipalities.