Community Supervision Part 1: Fees and Fines

By Scott Peyton

The probation and parole division is tasked with collecting monies ordered by courts and/or dictated by Louisiana statute. Collection practices should focus on victim restitution with less emphasis placed on the collection of monies that have little bearing on public safety.

KEY POINTS

• Community supervision is costly, often for reasons unrelated to supervision or the offense committed.

• The ability to pay determination as recommended by the Justice Reinvestment Initiative reforms has been delayed for nearly five years.

• Community supervision should focus on the collection of victim restitution over other legal financial obligations.

• The 10% collection fee that is added to victim restitution should be eliminated to allow for increased monies to victims.

Austin, TX: Right On Crime, 2023, 12p,