NCJ Number
151637
Date Published
1991
Length
84 pages
Annotation
The process for assessing fees to offenders convicted in the Florida State Courts System was evaluated to determine which fees judges are required to assess, the extent to which judges assess the required fees, the procedures developed by the Supreme Court to guide judges in assessing required fees, and the effect of not assessing required fees.
Abstract
The analysis focused on offenders convicted in circuit, county, and traffic courts in nine counties during fiscal year 1988-89. The analysis did not cover other costs such as bonds, forfeitures, restitution, public defender liens, prosecution liens, fines, and service charges. Results revealed that judges typically do not assess all fees required by law. Judges assessed all required fees in approximately 34 percent of the 2,637 cases reviewed. Assessment patterns varied by the type of court. Only 49 percent of the required fees were imposed. If the required minimum mandatory fees were assessed in all 208,000 appropriate cases, approximately $10 million in additional fees could have been assessed. However, it was impossible to determine the statewide impact of court fee assessments. Consolidation of all statutory requirements for fees into one chapter of the State code and other actions are recommended. Tables, figures, footnotes, and appended methodological information, additional results, and related information