Fine Calculator

This calculator starts from statutory fine ranges keyed to nine offense classes, from infractions up through Class A felonies, and pulls separate range tables depending on whether you select federal or state jurisdiction (state maximums are generally lower). The estimated fine is built from the midpoint of the applicable range, scaled up 20% per prior offense, then capped at the statutory maximum — a straightforward proxy for how courts weigh recidivism without modeling any one state's specific enhancement statute. For federal cases, there's a second check: if twice the financial gain from the crime exceeds the offense-class-based estimate, the calculator switches to that gain-based figure instead, mirroring 18 U.S.C. § 3571(d), which lets courts fine up to twice a defendant's pecuniary gain regardless of the offense-level cap.

Ability to pay then applies a multiplier — anywhere from a 75% reduction for indigent defendants to a 50% increase for high earners — reflecting the discretion courts have under federal and most state sentencing statutes. On top of the adjusted fine, the tool adds a flat special assessment ($100 for felony-class offenses, $25 otherwise), a 15% victim surcharge, and fixed court costs, then spreads the total across a payment plan whose length scales with the balance owed. Because actual fine schedules vary enormously by state and by specific statute, and judges retain wide discretion, use these totals to budget for a plausible range of outcomes rather than to predict the exact figure any particular court will hand down.