Does a defendant who is sentenced to prison have the ability to pay his defense costs?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from The People v. Powell, C063029, No. 080802 (Cal. App. 2010):

Thus, the statutory scheme establishes "a presumption... that a defendant sentenced to prison does not have the ability to reimburse defense costs." (People v. Flores, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 1068, italics added.)

Generally, a finding of a present ability to pay need not be express; it may be implied through the content and conduct of the hearings. (People v. Phillips, supra, 25 Cal.App.4th at pp. 71-72.)

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