# Plain Language Summary: Eliminating Debtor's Prison for Kids Act of 2021

This bill creates a federal grant program to help states provide mental health and behavioral health services to young people who are struggling or involved with the justice system. The federal government would set aside $500 million per year for five years to fund these services. The catch is that states can only receive this money if they pass laws eliminating certain fees and costs that are currently charged to young offenders and their families.

Specifically, states must prohibit charging juveniles or their parents for probation supervision fees, court costs, public defender fees, prosecution costs, and other court administrative expenses. They also cannot charge parents for their child's detention or placement in a facility after the child is found guilty. These are the "debtor's prison" practices the bill's title refers to—the idea that families can be trapped in debt because of the justice system's fees, which can prevent young people from moving forward after their involvement with the courts ends.

The bill also requires an independent study to examine how much money the criminal justice system collects through fines and fees, who pays them, and whether these charges affect how long people stay incarcerated. This research would look at whether people who can't afford to pay fines end up spending more time locked up than those who can pay, and would track demographic information to see if certain groups are disproportionately affected.

In practical terms, this bill would help young people and their families avoid being buried in debt because of court involvement, while also funding mental health services that could help prevent future problems. However, states would have to change their laws first to qualify for the federal money.

Eliminating Debtor’s Prison for Kids Act of 2021

Cárdenas, Tony

Eliminating Debtor's Prison for Kids Act of 2021 This bill directs the Department of Justice to make grants for states to provide mental and behavioral health services to at-risk youth, including juveniles in secure detention facilities or secure correctional facilities in the state. A state that receives a grant must (1) prohibit certain fees from being imposed on juvenile offenders or their parents or guardians; and (2) report, for inclusion in a national report, certain information about fines and fees imposed on adults and juveniles in the criminal justice system.