Crime Rising - Justice Scrambling!
As the number of reported crimes rise, courts throughout Florida are strapped for funding as a result of budget cuts and the downturn of the economy. Courts, more than many other parts of the state government, rely heavily on budgets to provide for personnel, manpower and daily activities.
When the economy takes a turn for the worse, crime, particularly DUI, assault and Driving While License Suspended increases. Defendants charged with these crimes are required to appear in court which in turn, costs the State and the County money. To combat the issue of rising crime and costs, courts are taking a closer look at some costs, such as those related to 'indigent' defendants to determine if they truly require services of the public defender.
Courts are also trying to recoup some of their expenses. In some counties, specifically in Hillsborough, criminal defendants are required to pay a prosecution fee of $50.00 when their case is resolved. Also, the fines applied to most crimes recently went up, in some case, almost doubling. For example, the fine amount for a person charged with DUI used to be $500.00 for a first offense, but has since been increased to $1000.00.
As much as the economy is suffering, it is imperative that the Justice system survive. Although cuts may have to be made to decrease costs, the public's need for courts is beyond reproach.
