By Kiera Riley | Arizona Capitol Times
Key Points:
- Courts vacate millions in debt from juveniles’ records
- Court’s reliance on AI automation maximized impact
- Advocates say weight lifted from juveniles, families
Courts across Arizona have wiped nearly $40 million in outstanding fees from juveniles’ records to comply with a new state law. Now, proponents of the measure and the state judicial system are celebrating the move as a step in the right direction to protect juveniles, and their families, from burdensome criminal fines.
“On so many levels (we’re) grateful for the courts for embracing it, grateful for the decision to automatically vacate, grateful that so many families are going to have this relief,” Rebecca Gau, executive director of Stand for Children, said. “It allows kids to get a fresh start with college loans and apartments, all the things that were hard from having this collection on their record.”
Before the passage of Senate Bill 1197, sponsored by Sen. David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista, and Rep. Alma Hernandez, D-Tucson, the courts could order juvenile defendants to cover charges for probation, attorney services, foster care, treatment, educational or community programs, juvenile supervision, health care, food, clothing and shelter while in custody.
