In all but 10 states, the families of children charged with crimes can be assessed fees to use attorneys appointed to represent them or billed for the cost of that representation, according to a new report.
“In almost every state, youth or their families must pay for legal assistance even if they are determined to be indigent, either by reimbursing the cost, paying a flat fee, or paying an application or other administrative fee,” the report from Juvenile Law Center says. “Charging families — especially those living in poverty — for ‘free’ attorneys leads to devastating consequences.
”The study found that 37 states require or permit the juvenile court system to bill families for attorneys’ fees when a lawyer is appointed to represent a child, bills that can run into thousands of dollars. Four states require administrative or application fees, while seven other states’ laws permit the practice. These fees range from $10 to as much as $400.
[For more on this story by Julie Miller, go to https://jjie.org/2018/08/14/ev...-states-report-says/]
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