... in misdemeanor cases (which involve time in local jail rather than prison) are converted to additional days in jail if the defendant cannot pay the fine. Used to be at the rate of $30 a day, but I haven't done criminal work for some time and do not know the current rate.

In my experience, in felony cases, the imposition of prison time and a fine is rather unusual. If it's part of a plea bargain, it's usually because the defendant can actually pay it and does so before going to prison as a means of reducing the prison time. In cases with certain kinds of statutory fines in addition to prison terms, the fines are generally stayed, with the stay to become permanent upon completion of the prison sentence.

Again, haven't done criminal cases in quite awhile (nearly ten years now), but I suspect the general process hasn't changed much.

----- jim o\-S