Calls for elimination of 'predatory' court fees come as budget talks begin — Queens Daily Eagle queenseagle.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from queenseagle.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
New York levies a mandatory surcharge on every criminal conviction, whether it’s for a violation, a misdemeanor or a felony. In some cases, court fees can add up to hundreds of dollars, and critics say the levies fall disproportionately on the backs of low-income residents. A proposed bill would eliminate them.
“We don’t need more police incarceration; we need a brand new mental health system with the accompanying resources required to make it work once and for all,” notes Jim Anderson, MSPAS, PA-C.
State lawmakers in New York are considering legislation that would eliminate fees and surcharges for court and probation, and prevent the garnishment of commissary accounts to pay those fees.