Financial Literacy Program

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

Williamson County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 launched a program in April 2019 designed to allow driving offenders – those who received citations for No Driver’s License, Driving While License Invalid and No Insurance – the option to enroll in a financial education class in lieu of paying fines.Soon after being sworn in, Judge Evelyn McLean detected a vicious cycle with driving offenders. Individuals tended to plead guilty but lacked resources to pay for their fine(s). As offenders continue to repeat driving offenses and receive additional citations, they incur additional fines. This cycle gets them further into debt to the court. This revelation prompted Judge McLean to explore ways her court could help provide financial education, instead of fines, for these types of offenders. Our Financial Literacy Program has been a benefit to our community by providing financial education to individuals who otherwise might not have received it.