End Juvenile Fines and Fees: SUPPORT of Arizona HB2033

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 25, 2022

Contact: Kiana M. Sears, East Valley NAACP President | (480) 442-1222 | [email protected]

EAST VALLEY – ARIZONA NAACP (1008-B) CALLS FOR COMMUNITY ACTION TO SUPPORT ARIZONA HB-2033:
END JUVENILE COURT ADMINISTRATIVE FINES AND FEES IN ARIZONA

January 25, 2022

MESA, ARIZONA (January 25, 2022) – Because juvenile court administrative fines and fees cause disproportionate, undue, and long-lasting hardships for low-income families who already struggle financially, the East Valley-Arizona NAACP agrees with a wide range of groups and individuals who support HB-2033, which would end non-punitive administrative fines and fees in Arizona.

Data from research studies document that court administrative fees lead to cycles of poverty and incarceration with minimal revenue for the government. In some states, the cost of collecting administrative fees can actually exceed the revenue. For the poor, the debt can have long-term negative economic consequences–a form of injustice.

We call upon Arizona legislators to support HB-2033, because, as the bill’s sponsor, State Representative Walt Blackman (R-Snowflake), observes, “Doing this would go a long way to help young people in turning their lives around for the better.”

We call upon the community to honor the work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who worked tirelessly for justice, including economic justice, by contacting their state legislators to urge them to support HB-2033 and documenting their support in the Request to Speak system.

“There is nothing new about poverty. What is new, however, is that we now have the resources to get rid of it.” (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Freedom Fighters, we work to disrupt inequality, dismantle racism, and accelerate change in key areas including criminal justice, health care, education, climate, and the economy. Join us at evnaacp.org.