2024
Governor Carney Signs Package of Bills That Eliminates Fees or Fee Debt with Delaware’s Criminal Legal System, The Talk of Delmarva, Aug. 14, 2024
Press Release - Aug. 14, 2024:
Unanimous Support Builds Momentum For Further Reforms as Governor Carney Signs Fines And Fees Bills Into Law (PDF)
Debtors Prison Reform Passes, Blue Delaware, July 8, 2024
Delaware Senate acts to alleviate court fee impact on low-income people, Coast TV, May 22, 2024
Ending Fees and Fines for Juvenile Offenders is Best for Rehabilitation, Reason, March 13, 2024
Bill raising fines for ignoring emergency vehicles moves on, Delaware Live, March 19, 2024
Press Release - Jan. 29, 2024: Unprecedented Consensus Among Criminal Justice Community for Next Steps in Fines and Fees Reform(PDF)
2023
Policymakers Weigh Pros and Cons of Court Fines and Fees, NCSL, Oct. 31, 2023
Got an unpaid criminal fine? You won't lose your license anymore in Delaware. Here's why, Delaware News Journal, April 10, 2023
Press Release - April 3, 2023:
Delaware Implements Fines And Fees Reform Law: Thousands Receive "Greenlight" to Reinstate Their Drivers Licenses (PDF)
A new Delaware law cuts criminal fees for residents with low income, WHYY, April 6, 2023
“Delaware judiciary looks to shift away from reliance on fines and fees revenue,” Delaware Public Media, February 16, 2023
$71K gift will help with campaign to end debtors’ prison [direct relief fund], Town Square Live, Feb. 9, 2023
Delaware study group examining fines and fees in criminal justice system, The Center Square Jan. 9, 2023
2022 and earlier
Meryem Dede, Guest Opinion: Ending justice fines against children is a start, more reform needed, Dec. 2, 2022
National Center for Access To Justice Releases New Fines And Fees Justice Reports on Decriminalizing Poverty in the Judicial System, NCAJ, Dec. 1, 2022
“Del. Stands Out Among States In Curbing ‘Unjust’ Fines, Fees,” Rose Krebs, Law360 Pulse,
Dec. 1, 2022
New Delaware Law Ends Many Fines And Fees That Criminalize Poverty, Forbes, Oct. 4, 2022
Delaware Passes Landmark Law Ending Abusive Fines and Fees, Institute for Justice, Oct. 4, 2022
Ending ‘vicious cycle’ of debtors’ prison in Delaware: Bill would halt some court fees for defendants, WHYY, May 16, 2022
“Delaware’s court-ordered fines and fees need reform,” Delaware Online op-ed, D. Marque Hall, November 12, 2021
“A Cry for Help from the Clink,” D. Marque Hall, Oct. 5, 2021
Highlands Bunker Podcast, Delaware’s Debtors’ Prisons, June 11, 2021
DE bills aims to reform court fines and fees system, WMDT, May 4, 2022
Delaware legislation lurches forward in favor of criminal defendants, The Center Square, April 21, 2022
“Let’s look at fees in criminal cases,” Delaware Online letter to the editor, Bruce Dalleo, Feb. 12, 2021
Commentary: ‘Criminal injustice’ should be addressed, Mary Anne Edwards, Dec. 6, 2020
Press Release - May 21, 2020:
Delaware Court System Ranked Near-Last in National Fines And Fees Index (PDF)
Press Release - April 13, 2020:
Delaware Courts Suspend Issuing of Failure to Pay Warrants, Provide Emergency Debt-Relief During Coronavirus Pandemic (PDF)
Delaware's court fines and fees criminalize poverty, make us less safe (opinion), Michael Atkins, Sep. 11, 2019