freeman v. Riverside County Archives – Western Center on Law & Poverty

Time Is Running Out To Cash Riverside County Juvenile Fee Settlement Checks

September 29, 2023, By LAist, Nate Perez

Around 1,200 Riverside County families who paid juvenile detention fees between December 2016 and April 2020 were mailed settlement checks earlier this summer. But around 400 have yet to cash them, and time is running out.

The backstory: California families that had a child in the juvenile system used to be charged a daily fee for every day their child was in juvenile hall. California legislators banned that in 2021. But earlier this year Riverside Superior Court approved a $540,307 settlement for families who paid those fees between 2016 and April 2020. Those checks were mailed in July.

Why it matters: Rebecca Miller, a senior litigator at the Western Center on Law and Poverty, said the fees loomed over the families while their child was incarcerated. “This is just such an important opportunity for us to undo some of that financial stress that these fees cause” Miller said.

Why now: Families who think they’re eligible have until Nov. 11 to cash the check. There’s about $150,000 left unclaimed from the settlement. Hong Le, a senior attorney with the National Center for Youth Law says she hopes all community members are able to access the money that’s owed to them. “We’ve already seen the positive impacts these repayments have had on some class members,” Le said. “Everyone who was harmed by these illegal practices deserves this refund and to be able to use this money however they choose.”

How to know if you’re eligible? Head to the settlement site or call Riverside County’s settlement administrator.

Check’s in the mail — Riverside County residents encouraged to cash reimbursements from juvenile court fees settlement

September 28, 2023, By National Center for Youth Law, Western Center on Law and Poverty

Check’s in the mail — Riverside County residents encouraged to cash reimbursements from juvenile court fees settlement

What would you do with an extra couple hundred dollars? How about an extra thousand, or more?

These questions are a welcome reality for many Riverside County families that were recently reimbursed after being charged with illegal juvenile court fees, and they could be a life-altering reality for many more community members who are still eligible for refunds — but time is running out.

Any parent or guardian who paid juvenile detention fees to Riverside County from December 2016 to April 2020 is encouraged to check their mail for a refund check.

If you have received a check:
- Cash it! The deadline is Nov. 11.
If you haven’t received a check, or for more information about eligibility:
- Call 833-472-1997 as soon as you can, or visit https://riversidejuvenilefees.com/Home/portalid/0.

The reimbursements are the result of a June 2023 settlement in a class action lawsuit, Freeman v. County of Riverside, brought against the County by parents and guardians impacted by juvenile court fees. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs — representing a class of some 1,200 people — alleged the County violated state and federal law when it charged millions of dollars in fees to families with children in juvenile detention, but failed both to ensure that families were able to pay the fees and to inform families of their right to challenge the fees. The plaintiff families are represented by the National Center for Youth Law and the Western Center on Law and Poverty.

“We sincerely hope that all community members are able to access the money that is owed back to them,” said Hong Le, senior attorney with the National Center for Youth Law. “We’ve already seen the positive impacts these repayments have had on some class members. Everyone who was harmed by these illegal practices deserves this refund and to be able to use this money however they choose.”

Many checks remain uncashed

Riverside County, per the class-action settlement, agreed to pay $540,307 in refunds to class members. This came after the County agreed to stop collecting $4.1 million in outstanding juvenile detention and administrative fees following the filing of Freeman v. County of Riverside in March 2020.

More than $150,000 in reimbursement funds remain uncollected following the distribution of checks this summer. That money could be life-changing for many eligible recipients who may be unaware of their eligibility, which is why the National Center for Youth Law and the Western Center on Law and Poverty are recommending that community members check old mail they have lying around and that they encourage friends and family members who may have paid juvenile court fees to do the same.

Community members who have already cashed their checks have used the funds, among other ways, to get out of debt, to help with household bills, and to improve their living situations.

“If you think that you should have received a check, please call 833-472-1997 to see if you are eligible. The Settlement Administrator can reissue a check if it didn’t reach you. The settlement is the only case in the country where families are receiving refunds for fees charged to them when they had a child in the juvenile system. We don’t want any family to miss out on getting this money,” said Rebecca Miller, senior litigator with Western Center on Law and Poverty.

Visit here for more information about the lawsuit and settlement. Information from the Settlement Administrator can be accessed here.

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The National Center for Youth Law centers youth through research, community collaboration, impact litigation, and policy advocacy that fundamentally transforms our nation’s approach to education, health, immigration, foster care, and youth justice. Our vision is a world in which every child thrives and has a full and fair opportunity to achieve the future they envision for themselves. For more information, visit www.youthlaw.org.

Western Center on Law and Poverty fights in courts, cities, counties, and in the Capitol to secure housing, health care, and a strong safety net for Californians with low incomes, through the lens of economic and racial justice. For more information, visit www.wclp.org.

Familias y jóvenes recibirán reembolsos en efectivo del Condado de Riverside luego de un acuerdo de demanda

June 5, 2023, By National Center for Youth Law, Western Center on Law and Poverty

Familias y jóvenes recibirán reembolsos en efectivo del Condado de Riverside luego de un acuerdo de demanda

Condado en el sur de California pagará $540K relacionados con multas y cuotas juveniles

CONDADO DE RIVERSIDE, CALIF. – Patricia Segura pasó casi una década tratando de pagar una deuda de la que a veces no estaba segura de que se iba escapar.

La residente del Condado de Riverside y madre soltera de cinco hijos luchó para hacer los pagos que le dijeron que debía, lo que provocó que perdiera los reembolsos de impuestos y sufriera daño en su puntaje de crédito en el camino. Todo porque el Condado de Riverside quería que pagara miles de dólares en cuotas por el tiempo que su hijo, en ese entonces un adolescente, pasó en una colocación juvenil.

“Se sintió tan injusto,” dijo la Sra. Segura sobre la situación en la que se encontraba. “Estaba tratando de hacer lo mejor que podía por mis hijos, y el Condado me cobraba y me quitaba el dinero que necesitaba para cuidarlos.”

La familia de la Sra. Segura es uno de los 1,200 miembros de la comunidad del Condado de Riverside que ahora son eligibles para el reembolso.

El 2 de junio, un juez otorgó la aprobación definitiva de un acuerdo en una demanda colectiva, Freeman contra County of Riverside, presentada contra el Condado por padres y guardianes afectados por multas y cuotas de detención juveniles. En la demanda, los demandantes alegaron que el Condado violó la ley estatal y federal cuando cobró millones de dólares en cuotas a familias con niños en detención juvenil, pero no se aseguró de que las familias pudieran pagar las cuotas ni informar a las familias sobre su derecho a desafiar las cuotas.

Según el acuerdo, el Condado acepta pagar $540,307 en reembolsos a los miembros colectivos. Esto es después de que el Condado acordó, luego de la presentación de la demanda en marzo de 2020, dejar de cobrar $4.1 millones en cuotas administrativas y de detención de menores pendientes. Las familias demandantes están representadas por el National Center for Youth Law (traducción: el Centro Nacional para las Leyes de Menores) y el Western Center on Law and Poverty (traducción: el Centro Occidental de Leyes y Pobreza).

“La colección de estas cuotas por parte del Condado ha devastado a las familias en apuros,” dijo Michael Harris, un abogado y Director Senior de Abogacía Jurídica y Equidad en el National Center for Youth Law. “Esas familias ahora recibirán ayuda financiera, y este acuerdo pone sobre aviso a otras jurisdicciones que están evaluando y recaudando dinero ilegalmente.”

Gran victoria

El acuerdo marca una victoria significativa para las familias del Condado de Riverside, algunas de las cuales, como la Sra. Segura, se han visto atrapadas en ciclos de turbulencias financieras que duran décadas como resulto de las prácticas de colección del Condado.

Los demandantes Shirley y Daniel Freeman también fueron perseguidos por el Condado durante más de 10 años por cuotas relacionadas con el tiempo que pasó su nieto en detención juvenil.

“Shirley y yo presentamos esta demanda porque queríamos ayudar a otras familias a recibir justicia por lo que sucedió,” dijo Daniel Freeman. “Después de un largo viaje, estoy orgulloso de lo que ha logrado este caso.”

“Muchas familias en Riverside pueden dar un suspiro de alivio cuando estas cuotas juveniles injustas se eliminan y reembolsan,” dijo Rebecca Miller, abogada con el Western Center on Law and Poverty. “Pero muchas personas en California todavía están agobiadas por deudas penales y juveniles inasequibles, aun con leyes que exigen que el gobierno considere su capacidad de pago. Las familias con bajos ingresos y las familias de color enfrentan la peor parte de esta deuda, despojando la riqueza de sus comunidades y negándoles la oportunidad de prosperar económicamente.”

La Sra. Segura dijo que estaba encantada de saber que calificaba para el reembolso cuando recibió una carta por correo.

“Espero que otras familias a las que les haya pasado lo mismo también se enteren del acuerdo y recuperen parte del dinero que pagaron,” ella dijo.

Las familias de las cuales el Condado de Riverside colectó cuotas de detención juvenil deberían haber recibido un aviso por correo sobre el acuerdo. Los padres y guardianes que creen que podrían ser miembros de la demanda colectiva con derecho a reparación en virtud del acuerdo, pero que no han recibido un aviso por correo, deben visitar el sitio del Administrador del Acuerdo en www.riversidejuvenilefees.com o llamar al (833) 472-1997.

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El National Center for Youth Law centra a los jóvenes a través de la investigación, la colaboración comunitaria, el litigo de impacto y la defensa de políticas que transforman fundamentalmente el enfoque de nuestra nación en la educación, la salud, inmigración, el cuidado de crianza y la justicia juvenil. Nuestra visión es un mundo en el que todos los niños prosperen y tengan la oportunidad plena y justa de lograr el futuro que imaginan para sí mismos. Para más información, visite http://www.youthlaw.org.

Western Center on Law and Poverty lucha en tribunales, ciudades, condados, y en el capitolio para asegurar vivienda, atención médica y una sólida red de seguridad para los Californianos con bajos ingresos, a través del lente de la justicia económica y racial. Para más información, visite www.wclp.org.

Families, youth to receive cash reimbursements from Riverside County following lawsuit settlement

June 5, 2023, By National Center for Youth Law, Western Center on Law and Poverty

Families, youth to receive cash reimbursements from Riverside County following lawsuit settlement

Southern California County to repay $540K related to juvenile fees

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. — Patricia Segura spent nearly a decade attempting to repay a debt she sometimes wasn’t sure she’d ever escape from under.

The Riverside County resident and single mother of five struggled to make the payments she was told she owed, causing her to lose out on tax refunds and suffer damage to her credit score along the way. All of it because Riverside County wanted her to pay thousands of dollars in fees for time her son, then a teenager, spent in a juvenile placement.

“It felt so unfair,” Ms. Segura said of the situation she found herself in. “I was trying to do the best I could for my kids, and the County was charging me and taking away the money that I needed to care for them.”

Ms. Segura’s family is among some 1,200 Riverside County community members now eligible for reimbursement.

A judge on June 2 granted final approval of a settlement in a class action lawsuit, Freeman v. County of Riverside, brought against the County by parents and guardians impacted by juvenile fees. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs alleged the County violated state and federal law when it charged millions of dollars in fees to families with children in juvenile detention but failed both to ensure that families were able to pay the fees and to inform families of their right to challenge the fees.

Per the settlement, the County agrees to pay $540,307 in reimbursements to class members. This is after the County agreed, following the filing of the lawsuit in March 2020, to stop collecting $4.1 million in outstanding juvenile detention and administrative fees. The plaintiff families are represented by the National Center for Youth Law and the Western Center on Law & Poverty.

“The County’s collection of these fees has devastated struggling families,” said Michael Harris, an attorney and Senior Director of Legal Advocacy and Justice and Equity at the National Center for Youth Law. “Those families will now receive financial relief, and this settlement puts other jurisdictions who are illegally assessing and collecting money on notice.”

Major victory

The settlement marks a significant victory for families in Riverside County, some of whom, like Ms. Segura, have been caught in decades-long cycles of financial turmoil as a result of the County’s collection practices.

Plaintiffs Shirley and Daniel Freeman were also pursued by the County for more than 10 years for fees related to their grandson’s time in juvenile detention.

“Shirley and I brought this lawsuit because we wanted to help other families receive justice for what happened,” said Daniel Freeman. “After a long journey, I am proud of what this case has accomplished.”

“So many families in Riverside are able to breathe a sigh of relief as these unjust juvenile fees are wiped away and reimbursed,” said Rebecca Miller, attorney with the Western Center on Law and Poverty. “But many people in California are still burdened with unaffordable criminal and juvenile debts, even with laws that require the government to consider their ability to pay. Families with low-incomes and families of color face the brunt of this debt, stripping wealth from their communities and denying them a chance to thrive economically.”

Ms. Segura said she was elated to learn she qualified for repayment when she received a letter in the mail.

“I hope other families that had the same thing happen to them will also hear about the settlement and get back some of the money they paid,” she said.

Families from whom Riverside County collected juvenile detention fees should have received a mailed notice about the settlement. Parents and guardians who believe they might be members of the class action entitled to relief under the settlement but have not received a mailed notice should visit the Settlement Administrator’s website at www.riversidejuvenilefees.com or call (833) 472-1997.

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Western Center on Law & Poverty fights in courts, cities, counties, and in the Capitol to secure housing, health care, and a strong safety net for Californians with low incomes, through the lens of economic and racial justice. For more information, visit www.wclp.org.

California’s Riverside County Agrees to Reimburse Families $540K in Juvenile Detention Fees

January 31, 2023February 15, 2023, By Willis Jacobson, National Center for Youth Law & Rebecca Miller, Western Center on Law and Poverty,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Para ver esta información en español, haz clic aqui

Settlement Website, click here

January 31, 2023

Contacts:

Willis Jacobson, National Center for Youth Law: [email protected]

Estevan Montemayor, Western Center on Law and Poverty: [email protected]

CALIFORNIA’S RIVERSIDE COUNTY AGREES TO REIMBURSE FAMILIES $540K IN JUVENILE DETENTION FEES

Riverside County families who were subjected to illegal collection of juvenile fees moved a step closer toward justice — in the form of cash reimbursements — after a court this month granted preliminary approval of a settlement in a class action lawsuit they brought against the County.

The lawsuit, Freeman v. County of Riverside, alleged that the County did not follow California law and the U.S. Constitution when it charged millions of dollars in fees to families who had children in juvenile detention. Under state law, the County was obligated to ensure families had the ability to pay fees they were assessed and inform families of their right to challenge the fees. The plaintiffs claimed that the County failed to fulfill these legal duties. The families are represented by the National Center for Youth Law and the Western Center on Law & Poverty.

After the families filed their complaint in court in March 2020, the County agreed to stop collecting $4.1 million in outstanding juvenile detention and administrative fees. The parties have now negotiated a settlement, in which the County agrees to pay $540,307 to reimburse more than 1,200 class members for the fee payments they made.

“The County’s practices have had a devastating effect on families,” said Michael Harris, an attorney and Senior Director of Legal Advocacy and Justice and Equity at the National Center for Youth Law. “This settlement will offer those families meaningful relief and deter Riverside County and other jurisdictions from illegally assessing and collecting money from struggling families.”

The settlement, if finalized, would mark a major victory for families in Riverside County, some of whom have been caught in decades-long cycles of financial turmoil as a result of the County’s collection practices. Plaintiffs Shirley and Daniel Freeman are among those from whom the County pursued for more than 10 years to collect fees related to their grandson’s time in juvenile detention. “The settlement gives recognition to what happened to us and other families,” said Shirley and Daniel Freeman. “We are pleased that the lawsuit helped families by canceling amounts they still owed and now the settlement will return some of the money that was collected from them.”

“Even when state law requires consideration of ability to pay, individuals and their families are frequently burdened with debt they’re unable to pay. These fees cause significant harm to families, undermining community health and trust in public institutions,” said Rebecca Miller, Senior Litigator with the Western Center on Law and Poverty. “This case shows why fees should not be charged to individuals involved in the juvenile justice system.”

Families from whom Riverside County collected juvenile detention fees will receive mailed notice about the proposed class action settlement in the coming weeks. Parents and guardians who believe they might be members of the class action entitled to relief under the settlement should visit the Settlement Administrator’s website at www.riversidejuvenilefees.com or call (833) 472-1997.

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The National Center for Youth Law centers youth through research, community collaboration, impact litigation, and policy advocacy that fundamentally transforms our nation’s approach to education, health, immigration, foster care, and youth justice. Our vision is a world in which every child thrives and has a full and fair opportunity to achieve the future they envision for themselves. For more information, visit www.youthlaw.org.

Western Center on Law & Poverty fights in courts, cities, counties, and in the Capitol to secure housing, health care, and a strong safety net for Californians with low incomes, through the lens of economic and racial justice. For more information, visit www.wclp.org.

Challenging Unjust Juvenile Fee Collection for Families in Riverside

October 15, 2021October 15, 2021, By Rebecca Miller - Western Center Senior Attorney

Last month, Western Center filed a motion for class certification in our case, Freeman v. Riverside County, which challenges how Riverside County charged fees to parents and guardians whose children were involved in the juvenile legal system. The case was filed together with our co-counsel, the National Center for Youth Law.

Families were charged daily “costs of support” – $30 or so per day for each day their child was in detention. State law required the county to assess families’ ability to afford the costs, which were often thousands of dollars, and provide procedural due process before collecting. Riverside did nothing – just calculated the fees and sent the totals to collection. Our case seeks to shine a light on this abuse of government authority, and asks for a refund of illegally collected fees.

Fortunately, the authority to charge these types of juvenile fees has been eliminated in California, as well as counties’ ability to collect older fees. The story behind this case is important, not just for accountability in Riverside, but also because there are still many fees charged to overpoliced communities in California.

Cases like this one demonstrate why advocates are fighting for abolition of juvenile and adult criminal fees – not a reduction or ability to pay process. There are important racial equity principles behind that goal, because of who the juvenile and adult legal systems target. There are also common sense administrative policy reasons for fee abolition, mainly that ability to pay processes are inequitable and don’t work. Our case in Riverside shows that even when state law requires an ability to pay process, it is not followed, or it’s followed so ineptly or inconsistently that it becomes meaningless. Ability to pay processes also replicate racial bias in the courts and legal system.

As this case proceeds, I must share our appreciation and admiration for our clients who have worked with us on this case for over two years, and for their bravery in telling their stories. We are hopeful for a good outcome, and that the class data we may be able to obtain illustrates why shifting the cost of government onto individuals through user fees causes inequity, and in a nutshell, constitutes wealth stripping from low income communities and communities of color.

Tag: freeman v. Riverside County