Juvenile Fee Abolition in California

After years of organizing, research, and advocacy, California has abolished fees in the juvenile legal system.

In a 2017 report, we documented the harmful, costly, and unlawful practice of charging juvenile fees to youth and families across California. In 2017, the Legislature repealed county authority to charge new juvenile fees. In 2020, the Legislature repealed county county to collect on all previously assessed fees and required the discharge of all outstanding fees. 

Senate Bill 1290 

Starting January 1, 2021, Senate Bill 1290 (SB 1290) prohibits counties from collecting fees assessed to parents and guardians for their children’s detention, representation by counsel, electronic monitoring, probation, supervision, and drug testing in the juvenile system. The bill also discharges all outstanding juvenile fees.

We sent a letter and a checklist to all counties outlining their responsibilities under SB 1290. Flyers for impacted youth and families can be found here.   

Senate Bill 190 

Starting January 1, 2018, Senate Bill 190 (SB 190) prohibits counties from charging fees assessed to parents and guardians for their children’s detention, representation by counsel, electronic monitoring, probation, supervision, and drug testing in the juvenile system. 

We sent an implementation packet, including a letter, checklist, and flyers for impacted youth and families, to all counties. 

In a 2019 report, we presented key findings regarding the implementation of SB 190. 

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See the interactive chart below for details about juvenile fee collection in each county, including the county’s collection status, the dollar amounts relieved or still under active collection, and the associated number of accounts.

In 2018, California abolished new juvenile fees. In 2021, all outstanding debt will be declared uncollectible and discharged. Which counties are still collecting old fees as of July 2020?

 

If juvenile fees are still being charged or collected in your county or if you have questions, please contact sb1290@clinical.law.berkeley.edu.