Timely credible sanctions, however, for non-payment of fees by the able, but unwilling, are critical. Opponents of supervision fees state that supervision fees induce offenders with limited resources and skills to commit new crimes. 10 Fees, in effect, put a price on probation which some offenders may not be able to pay. Even those who do not commit new crimes may abscond as a result of their real or perceived inability to pay. Revocations for new crimes or for failure to report may simply mask fee overload.
Fees present a number of organizational and administrative problems.
Supervision fees are frequently ranked low by judges in terms of priorities. As a result, officers may be saddled with the responsibility of collecting fees without adequate enforcement sanctions which results in decreased credibility. Agencies may find that revenues generated from fees will be used by funding sources to supplant rather than supplement traditional sources of revenue. Dependence on fees increases fiscal uncertainty for probation and parole agencies by making them dependent on an unstable source of funds. As a result, financial dependence on fees provides net widening incentives.