In an effort to upgrade the city of Mexico’s current court computer system and be in compliance with state law, Public Safety officials are asking the council to increase court costs on cases tried in the Municipal Court.
The Mexico City Code currently charges $21 per court case. If amended, the revision would add an additional $12.50, making the court cost $33.50.
The request received its first reading by title only Tuesday night, during the regular session meeting of the city council.
"Basically, what we're interested in doing is participating in the state's Municipal Court Automation Program, which would make for a more efficient court system," Maj. Brice Mesko told council members Tuesday. "The state courts are already on the system, and many municipalities are joining, simply because of the advantages it offers."
The system, Mesko explained, would increase court efficiency by notifying the department of revenue automatically for point assessment, and assisting the city's municipal court in fine collection by participating in a Tax Offset Program, and an option to participate in a Debt Collection Program.
Court records reflect there was approximately $16,500 in outstanding municipal fines as of February, and that figure is at $15,000 now. With the council's approval, the Office of the State Court Administration would install the Justice Information System software on the city's municipal court clerk's computer – but to participate, an additional $7 would need to be assessed to the programs that the court costs support.
The municipal court currently allows for the collection of $5 for the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund (CVCF) on non-moving traffic violations, and $1 for the Domestic Violence Shelter Fund (DVSF). To be a part of the Justice Information System, the revised statutes of Missouri requires $7.50 be collected for all offenses for the CVCF, and $2 for the DVSF.
The revised statutes also allow for the collection of $2 for the Inmate Security Fund, which is for the installation and maintenance of a biometric identification system for inmate tracking.
"The Mexico Public Safety Department already operates and maintains a LiveScan fingerprint and photograph system which meets these requirements, for approximately $7,665 annually," Mesko explained. "The court costs fee would generate approximately $1,550 annually for the city, and would be used to offset costs associated with the system."
Additional advantages the state's Justice Information System provides include:
• A paperless court system. Currently, Mexico Public Safety Department writes everything out by hand, and then sends it to the Dept. of Revenue.
• The opportunity for citizens to track city of Mexico cases through Missouri Case net.
• The opportunity for victims of crimes to be notified through the Victim's Notification System.
• The option for Mexico Public Safety Department's to participate in the state's Tax Offset Program for people who don't pay their fines. According to Mesko, the state could intercept the individual's Missouri Income Tax to pay the overdue amount; and
• The benefits of integrating the information systems of courts, law enforcement agencies, and corrections to improve service.Mesko said the Mexico Public Safety officers work roughly 775 cases a year.
A second reading and approval is expected at the July meeting.