Press Release - MyCitations
As part of the Del Norte Superior Court’s ongoing effort to increase access to justice, Del Norte County became the newest California Court to begin using MyCitations: an online option for people struggling to pay fines related to infractions.
In October 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice “Price of Justice Initiative” grant was awarded to the Judicial Council of California. Grant funds were used for development and implementation of the MyCitations: Ability to Pay Tool. Del Norte County is the newest county to implement this program. This tool is currently available for most California Courts and will be available for all California Trial courts within this coming year.
The tool allows courts users to look up citations online, answer a series of simple questions and submit a request to the court for a possible reduction in the amount owed based on their financial situation. Users can also request a payment plan, more time to pay, or community service.
This new option saves both time and resources, and allows the public to make requests without the need to appear in court. Prior to the implementation of this tool, only those that had previously made a plea and payment agreement with the court or were found guilty could file a request for reduction.