Module 3 Question 3

Module 3 Exercises:

Question 3. Assessment made before assignment of fee.

Defendant: John Thompson is a 50-year-old veteran who pled guilty to public intoxication. This is John’s third intoxication conviction in 2 years. As a result, the fine is increased from $250 to $500. The fine or sentencing enhancement are waivable under state statute for good cause. The jurisdiction requires an ability to pay assessment to be conducted before legal financial obligations are assessed.

$250.00 Fine - Waivable under state statute for good cause.
$250.00 Sentencing enhancement - Waivable under state statute for good cause.
Total: $500.00

Instructions: Conduct the ability to pay assessment using the chatbot below.

John Thompson Ability to Pay Assessment Bot

Loading QnA...

<div id='Q-1' name='Q-1' style='display:none;'> What would you like to ask John a question about?
</div><div id='Q-1.1' name='Q-1.1' style='display:none;'>John does not currently have an income.<br><br>Would you like to ask another question?
</div><div id='Q-1.1.1' name='Q-1.1.1' style='display:none;'>GOTO:1</div><div id='Q-1.1.2' name='Q-1.1.2' style='display:none;'> What is your determination of John's ability to pay and the proportionate sanction amount? GOTO:2</div><div id='Q-1.2' name='Q-1.2' style='display:none;'>John receives veterans’ disability benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) due to a service-related injury that limits his ability to work. His income is below 125% of the FPG, making him eligible for needs-based assistance, but he has not enrolled in any additional benefits.<br><br>Would you like to ask another question?
</div><div id='Q-1.2.1' name='Q-1.2.1' style='display:none;'>GOTO:1</div><div id='Q-1.2.2' name='Q-1.2.2' style='display:none;'> What is your determination of John's ability to pay and the proportionate sanction amount? GOTO:2</div><div id='Q-1.3' name='Q-1.3' style='display:none;'> John has minimal financial resources and no significant assets. John carries large credit card debt accumulated during periods of homelessness before he received disability benefits. John has multiple outstanding consumer debt judgments for non-payment of these cards.<br><br>Would you like to ask another question?
</div><div id='Q-1.3.1' name='Q-1.3.1' style='display:none;'>GOTO:1</div><div id='Q-1.3.2' name='Q-1.3.2' style='display:none;'> What is your determination of John's ability to pay and the proportionate sanction amount? GOTO:2</div><div id='Q-1.4' name='Q-1.4' style='display:none;'>John is frequently homeless and spends some nights in a shelter when his disability benefits are insufficient to cover his expenses. Other times he rents a room by the week in a rooming house. <br><br>Would you like to ask another question?
</div><div id='Q-1.4.1' name='Q-1.4.1' style='display:none;'>GOTO:1</div><div id='Q-1.4.2' name='Q-1.4.2' style='display:none;'> What is your determination of John's ability to pay and the proportionate sanction amount? GOTO:2</div><div id='Q-1.5' name='Q-1.5' style='display:none;'> His basic living expenses change weekly but include utilities, food, and medical expenses for his chronic health conditions, including alcoholism which he has struggled with since serving.<br><br>Would you like to ask another question?
</div><div id='Q-1.5.1' name='Q-1.5.1' style='display:none;'>GOTO:1</div><div id='Q-1.5.2' name='Q-1.5.2' style='display:none;'> What is your determination of John's ability to pay and the proportionate sanction amount? GOTO:2</div><div id='Q-1.6' name='Q-1.6' style='display:none;'> John has no dependents. <br><br>Would you like to ask another question?
</div><div id='Q-1.6.1' name='Q-1.6.1' style='display:none;'>GOTO:1</div><div id='Q-1.6.2' name='Q-1.6.2' style='display:none;'> What is your determination of John's ability to pay and the proportionate sanction amount? GOTO:2</div><div id='Q-1.7' name='Q-1.7' style='display:none;'>  He has been making efforts to secure additional resources by applying for various assistance programs, but his physical health and lack of transportation continuously limit his ability to find stable employment. <br><br>Would you like to ask another question?
</div><div id='Q-1.7.1' name='Q-1.7.1' style='display:none;'>GOTO:1</div><div id='Q-1.7.2' name='Q-1.7.2' style='display:none;'> What is your determination of John's ability to pay and the proportionate sanction amount? GOTO:2</div><div id='Q-1.8' name='Q-1.8' style='display:none;'> John is frequently before the court and has other LFOs for the same or similar infraction, some that have gone unpaid for a significant period of time. John also has multiple outstanding consumer debt judgements for the credit card debt he accumulated during periods of homelessness.<br><br>Would you like to ask another question?
</div><div id='Q-1.8.1' name='Q-1.8.1' style='display:none;'>GOTO:1</div><div id='Q-1.8.2' name='Q-1.8.2' style='display:none;'> What is your determination of John's ability to pay and the proportionate sanction amount? GOTO:2</div><div id='Q-2' name='Q-2' style='display:none;'>As a reminder, here are the fines and fees:<br> • $250.00 Fine - Waivable under state statute for good cause.<br> • 
$250.00 Sentencing enhancement - Waivable under state statute for good cause.<br>• Total - $500.00
</div><div id='Q-2.1' name='Q-2.1' style='display:none;'>Incorrect, D. Waive the full fine amount, is the best answer. GOTO:3</div><div id='Q-2.2' name='Q-2.2' style='display:none;'>Incorrect, D. Waive the full fine amount, is the best answer. GOTO:3</div><div id='Q-2.3' name='Q-2.3' style='display:none;'>Incorrect, D. Waive the full fine amount, is the best answer. GOTO:3</div><div id='Q-2.4' name='Q-2.4' style='display:none;'>Correct! GOTO:3</div><div id='Q-3' name='Q-3' style='display:none;'> Consider how making the ability to pay assessment up front impacts John’s situation. If John continues to receive monetary sanctions that add to his court debt, how does it impact his ability to afford his living expenses and other necessary costs? Further, the legal financial obligations are not meaningfully addressing the underlying causes of the particular offense. Where fines and fees do not make the intended impact alternative sanctions might best serve John. We will explore alternative sanctions in Module 4. <br><br> Notably, John is receiving veterans’ disability benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) despite being eligible for additional needs-based assistance. The court can play a role in referring people to services and giving information about additional benefits they may be eligible for. Some courts have assigned court users to apply for benefits they are eligible for as an alternative sanction to encourage participation in valuable benefit programs. </div><div id='A-1.1' name='A-1.1' style='display:none;'> Income.
</div><div id='A-href-1.1' name='A-href-1.1' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.1' name='A-target-1.1' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.1' name='X-1.1' style='display:none;'>Income.</div><div id='A-1.1.1' name='A-1.1.1' style='display:none;'> Yes, I have more questions.
</div><div id='A-href-1.1.1' name='A-href-1.1.1' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.1.1' name='A-target-1.1.1' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.1.1' name='X-1.1.1' style='display:none;'>Yes, I have more questions.</div><div id='A-1.1.2' name='A-1.1.2' style='display:none;'> No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination. 
</div><div id='A-href-1.1.2' name='A-href-1.1.2' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.1.2' name='A-target-1.1.2' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.1.2' name='X-1.1.2' style='display:none;'>No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination.</div><div id='A-1.2' name='A-1.2' style='display:none;'> Benefits.
</div><div id='A-href-1.2' name='A-href-1.2' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.2' name='A-target-1.2' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.2' name='X-1.2' style='display:none;'>Benefits.</div><div id='A-1.2.1' name='A-1.2.1' style='display:none;'> Yes, I have more questions.
</div><div id='A-href-1.2.1' name='A-href-1.2.1' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.2.1' name='A-target-1.2.1' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.2.1' name='X-1.2.1' style='display:none;'>Yes, I have more questions.</div><div id='A-1.2.2' name='A-1.2.2' style='display:none;'> No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination. 
</div><div id='A-href-1.2.2' name='A-href-1.2.2' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.2.2' name='A-target-1.2.2' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.2.2' name='X-1.2.2' style='display:none;'>No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination.</div><div id='A-1.3' name='A-1.3' style='display:none;'> Financial Resources and Assets.
</div><div id='A-href-1.3' name='A-href-1.3' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.3' name='A-target-1.3' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.3' name='X-1.3' style='display:none;'>Financial Resources and Assets.</div><div id='A-1.3.1' name='A-1.3.1' style='display:none;'> Yes, I have more questions.
</div><div id='A-href-1.3.1' name='A-href-1.3.1' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.3.1' name='A-target-1.3.1' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.3.1' name='X-1.3.1' style='display:none;'>Yes, I have more questions.</div><div id='A-1.3.2' name='A-1.3.2' style='display:none;'> No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination. 
</div><div id='A-href-1.3.2' name='A-href-1.3.2' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.3.2' name='A-target-1.3.2' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.3.2' name='X-1.3.2' style='display:none;'>No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination.</div><div id='A-1.4' name='A-1.4' style='display:none;'> Living Situation. 
</div><div id='A-href-1.4' name='A-href-1.4' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.4' name='A-target-1.4' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.4' name='X-1.4' style='display:none;'>Living Situation.</div><div id='A-1.4.1' name='A-1.4.1' style='display:none;'> Yes, I have more questions. 
</div><div id='A-href-1.4.1' name='A-href-1.4.1' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.4.1' name='A-target-1.4.1' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.4.1' name='X-1.4.1' style='display:none;'>Yes, I have more questions.</div><div id='A-1.4.2' name='A-1.4.2' style='display:none;'> No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination.
</div><div id='A-href-1.4.2' name='A-href-1.4.2' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.4.2' name='A-target-1.4.2' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.4.2' name='X-1.4.2' style='display:none;'>No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination.</div><div id='A-1.5' name='A-1.5' style='display:none;'> Living Expenses.
</div><div id='A-href-1.5' name='A-href-1.5' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.5' name='A-target-1.5' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.5' name='X-1.5' style='display:none;'>Living Expenses.</div><div id='A-1.5.1' name='A-1.5.1' style='display:none;'> Yes, I have more questions. 
</div><div id='A-href-1.5.1' name='A-href-1.5.1' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.5.1' name='A-target-1.5.1' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.5.1' name='X-1.5.1' style='display:none;'>Yes, I have more questions.</div><div id='A-1.5.2' name='A-1.5.2' style='display:none;'> No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination. 
</div><div id='A-href-1.5.2' name='A-href-1.5.2' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.5.2' name='A-target-1.5.2' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.5.2' name='X-1.5.2' style='display:none;'>No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination.</div><div id='A-1.6' name='A-1.6' style='display:none;'> Cost for Dependent Care.
</div><div id='A-href-1.6' name='A-href-1.6' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.6' name='A-target-1.6' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.6' name='X-1.6' style='display:none;'>Cost for Dependent Care.</div><div id='A-1.6.1' name='A-1.6.1' style='display:none;'> Yes, I have more questions. 
</div><div id='A-href-1.6.1' name='A-href-1.6.1' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.6.1' name='A-target-1.6.1' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.6.1' name='X-1.6.1' style='display:none;'>Yes, I have more questions.</div><div id='A-1.6.2' name='A-1.6.2' style='display:none;'> No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination. 
</div><div id='A-href-1.6.2' name='A-href-1.6.2' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.6.2' name='A-target-1.6.2' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.6.2' name='X-1.6.2' style='display:none;'>No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination.</div><div id='A-1.7' name='A-1.7' style='display:none;'> Efforts to Acquire Additional Resources.
</div><div id='A-href-1.7' name='A-href-1.7' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.7' name='A-target-1.7' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.7' name='X-1.7' style='display:none;'>Efforts to Acquire Additional Resources.</div><div id='A-1.7.1' name='A-1.7.1' style='display:none;'> Yes, I have more questions.
</div><div id='A-href-1.7.1' name='A-href-1.7.1' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.7.1' name='A-target-1.7.1' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.7.1' name='X-1.7.1' style='display:none;'>Yes, I have more questions.</div><div id='A-1.7.2' name='A-1.7.2' style='display:none;'> No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination. 
</div><div id='A-href-1.7.2' name='A-href-1.7.2' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.7.2' name='A-target-1.7.2' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.7.2' name='X-1.7.2' style='display:none;'>No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination.</div><div id='A-1.8' name='A-1.8' style='display:none;'> Other Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs).
</div><div id='A-href-1.8' name='A-href-1.8' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.8' name='A-target-1.8' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.8' name='X-1.8' style='display:none;'>Other Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs).</div><div id='A-1.8.1' name='A-1.8.1' style='display:none;'> Yes, I have more questions.
</div><div id='A-href-1.8.1' name='A-href-1.8.1' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.8.1' name='A-target-1.8.1' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.8.1' name='X-1.8.1' style='display:none;'>Yes, I have more questions.</div><div id='A-1.8.2' name='A-1.8.2' style='display:none;'> No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination. 
</div><div id='A-href-1.8.2' name='A-href-1.8.2' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-1.8.2' name='A-target-1.8.2' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-1.8.2' name='X-1.8.2' style='display:none;'>No, I am ready to make the ability to pay determination.</div><div id='A-2.1' name='A-2.1' style='display:none;'> A. Require John to pay the full amount today.  
</div><div id='A-href-2.1' name='A-href-2.1' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-2.1' name='A-target-2.1' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-2.1' name='X-2.1' style='display:none;'>A. Require John to pay the full amount today.</div><div id='A-2.2' name='A-2.2' style='display:none;'> B. Create a payment plan for the full amount.  
</div><div id='A-href-2.2' name='A-href-2.2' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-2.2' name='A-target-2.2' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-2.2' name='X-2.2' style='display:none;'>B. Create a payment plan for the full amount.</div><div id='A-2.3' name='A-2.3' style='display:none;'> C. Waive the sentencing enhancement.
</div><div id='A-href-2.3' name='A-href-2.3' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-2.3' name='A-target-2.3' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-2.3' name='X-2.3' style='display:none;'>C. Waive the sentencing enhancement.</div><div id='A-2.4' name='A-2.4' style='display:none;'> D. Waive the full fine amount. 
</div><div id='A-href-2.4' name='A-href-2.4' style='display:none;'>javascript:void('');</div><div id='A-target-2.4' name='A-target-2.4' style='display:none;'></div><div id='X-2.4' name='X-2.4' style='display:none;'>D. Waive the full fine amount.</div>
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