Funding Through Fees

In addition to imposing fines and penalties on offenders, states have imposed nonoffender-based fees for certain services, which are used to fund crime victim programs. For instance, many states add a surcharge when issuing a marriage license. The money collected is used to fund domestic violence or child abuse programs. Connecticut uses part of the marriage license surcharge to fund rape prevention programs.³³ Indiana uses marriage license fees to fund its general victim/witness assistance programs.³⁴ Surcharge amounts range from $3 in Minnesota to $38 in New Hampshire.³⁵

In addition to marriage license fees, many states charge an additional fee for filing for divorce. This amount ranges from $1 in Oregon to $32 in Ohio.³⁶ Utah assesses an additional $2 fee on all civil filings. This money is deposited into the Children's Legal Defense Account for guardian ad litem programs and other programs involving child custody and visitation.³⁷

The amount of money raised through such fees can be significant. Nevada adds a $15 surcharge to its marriage license fee. This money is deposited into an account to aid victims of domestic violence.³⁸ In 1999, this program brought in $2.1 million.³⁹ Ohio's $32 surcharge for filing for divorce and its $17 fee for each marriage license raised $3,203,668 for domestic violence shelters in 1999.⁴⁰

Similarly, many states have attached fees, ranging from $1 to $10, for issuing birth certificates. The money collected generally goes to the Children's Trust Fund or to fund child abuse and prevention programs.⁴¹ A few states add a Children's Trust Fund surcharge when issuing a birth certificate “suitable for display.”⁴²

A few states impose fees on the reinstatement of a driver's license after its suspension or revocation for drunk or drugged driving. Illinois imposes a $60 reinstatement fee on first-time offenders. Thirty dollars of the fee is deposited into the Drunk and Drugged Drivers Prevention Fund. For reinstatement after a second or subsequent suspension or revocation for impaired driving, the fee is $250, and $190 of that is deposited into the fund.⁴³

As illustrated above, when states impose fees on government services that have a logical connection to specific crime victim programs, they have found a source of funding limited only by the creativity of advocates and policymakers.