Ferguson proposes municipal court reforms, adding police review board
FERGUSON • The Ferguson City Council announced plans Monday to make changes designed to reduce court fine revenue, reform court procedures and start a Citizen Review Board that will help keep an eye on and guide the police department.
Devin James, the media contact with the public relations firm representing the city, said Monday night that nobody from the city would be available to comment beyond a press release about the proposals. Messages left with City Council members and the mayor were not returned Monday night.
One of the ordinances that will be introduced tonight ensures court fine revenue stays at or below 15 percent of the city’s total revenue, and that any court revenue over that amount is used for special community projects instead of general revenue uses.
Another proposed ordinance would repeal the separate offense of “failure to appear” in municipal court. Defendants who don’t show up would no longer face a new fine.
Another ordinance would abolish the $25 administrative fee that goes along with towing costs; the city will now pay for that.
Another would take away a $50 warrant recall fee and a $15 notification fee that goes along with a case where a defendant has failed to appear.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/ferguson-proposes-municipal-court-reforms-adding-police-review-board/article_bfb4e505-527f-5f70-bab9-1e41a5b2380e.html
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