Fines? Fees? Restitution? A Criminal Conviction Can Be Costly
With fines, fees, and restitution to pay, a criminal conviction can wind up being extremely costly. Every charge has a set fine, so multiple charges can mean multiple fines. If you lose your case you’ll have to pay all of the court fees. And if you injured or defrauded someone, the judge could order you to pay restitution as well. So if you’re weighing the cost of a lawyer against the cost of a conviction, here’s what you need to know.
What are fines like for criminal convictions?
Fines are punitive damages that you need to pay to the county where the violation occurred. They are usually high, because they are meant to deter people from repeating criminal action.
A judge could choose to mitigate a fine by up to 90% in exchange for community service. But when there are multiple charges or repeat offenses, they can raise the maximum fines.
Maximum fines per charge are normally capped at:
- $300 for petty offenses
- $2,500 for misdemeanors
- $150,000 for felonies
But fines are only the start. There are fees to pay as well.
What are the fees for criminal court cases?
In the Arizona courts there is a fee for just about everything. Plus, there’s no limit on the amount of fees that can be charged.
Common court fees include:
- Filing, processing, and administrative fees
- Sentencing fees
- Reimbursement for public defenders and prosecution costs
- Reimbursement for room and board during incarceration
- Prison-dedicated funds and fees
- Any monitoring devices required by the court
- Community service fees
- Drug and alcohol screenings or educational programs
The good news is that you only have to pay court fees if you get convicted. If you plead innocent and win your case, you’ll only have to pay your lawyer.
What types of sentences include restitution?
Along with fines, a judge can also order someone to pay restitution as part of their criminal sentence. Restitution is money paid to the victim of a crime to compensate them for the injuries or losses they suffered.
For example:
- Someone convicted of a robbery may be required to pay back the value of the stolen goods.
- And someone who committed an assault might have to pay for the victim’s medical bills.
Failure to Pay Can Mean Another Conviction and More Fines
In Arizona, the repayment of fines, fees, and restitution are handled by the FARE Program. This agency is in charge of collections, and they keep track of every late or missed payment.
Failure to pay can result in a bench warrant. You will be summoned to appear in court to answer questions about your financial situation and why you were not making payments.
If there is a good reason why you missed payments, the judge might modify the payment schedule or the amount of the fine. But if you are willfully refusing to pay, you could be held in contempt of court, which is a class 2 misdemeanor. This is an additional charge, which means more fines, more fees, and sometimes even incarceration.
Criminal Defense Attorneys in Scottsdale, AZ
Facing criminal charges? You need strong legal representation if you want to avoid a conviction. Van Norman Law has been in practice for over 25 years, and it’s our mission to provide high-quality legal services at an affordable rate to anyone in need of legal representation.
If you’re unhappy with your court-appointed lawyer or worried about the outcome of your case, contact us to schedule your free initial consultation.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (7/31/2026). Photo by Jp Valery on Unsplash.