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Associate Professor of Economics, John E. Walker Department of Economics, Clemson University
On March 15, The Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution hosted a forum exploring reforms to monetary sanctions, including bail, fines, fees, and forfeitures.
In this paper Michael Makowsky of Clemson University describes how the reliance of local governments on fees, fines, and asset forfeiture for revenue generation shapes law enforcement activities. Makowsky proposes a set of reforms that would decouple the revenue collection from the public safety objectives of law enforcement. Breaking this link would realign the criminal justice system with its traditional public safety goals.