Sentencing—Order to Pay Fine Through Inmate Financial Responsibility Program

A federal sentencing judge lacks authority to order an offender to pay a fine and a special assessment through the Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Financial Responsibility Program because the program is purely voluntary, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit decided June 11. (United States v. Boyd)

The IFRP is a program in which prison staff members help inmates develop financial responsibility. A prisoner who opts not to participate is at risk of losing various privileges, including job training, outside work details, and access to community-based programs.

The Seventh Circuit decided that the district judge in ...