Fines and restitution are two of the most commonly used intermediate sanctions. Advocates say they enable a person to be held accountable for a crime without having to impose a term of incarceration. But some critics point out that financial penalties can inadvertently favor people who have greater means, and work against the poor. Moreover, financial penalties tend to stack up, leaving people forever dealing with the consequences of their conviction because their money problems keep them in trouble.

1. Do fines work in favor of the rich? What can be done about that?

2. Is it fair to impose monetary penalties that also affect family member quality of life?

3. Is it fair to victims to impose restitution as a sentence when it is clear that a person will never be able to afford to pay it?

4. Does it make sense to stack on financial penalties? At what point does the use of financial penalties become counterproductive?