Crimes in County Will Now be Tried in County Courts

Those who are caught stealing or trespassing or who violate any number of laws in Jefferson County may now find themselves prosecited in a hometown court instead of in the state court.

The Jefferson County Council recently passed a Code of Municipal Ordinances that allows the county to prosecute certain crimes in county municipal court. The new code mean that any fines for the offenses will become county revenue instead of being collected by the state.

The list of crimes include:

• Assault
• Harassment
• Stalking
• False Declarations
• False Impersonation
• Stealing
• Trespassing
• Public Intoxication
• Resisting or interfering with Arrest, Detention or Stop
• Possession of Stolen Property
• Possession of Marijuana, Drug Paraphernalia
• Possession of Tobacco by a Minor
• Indecent Exposure
• Peace Disturbance
• Destruction of Property

The Jefferson County Municipal Court now will hear these infractions in daytime and evening sessions. Revenue from any associated fines collected will stay in Jefferson County.

It's an important point for Jefferson County Council Chair Renee Reuter, R-2nd District. Her district includes parts of High Ridge and Arnold.

"The fine money doesn't go to the state," she said. "We now have the opportunity to get that money back."

Council member Bob Boyer, R-3rd District, of Arnold, said the ability to prosecute crimes in Jefferson County municipal court allows the county to control its own matters.

"We will have more local control and we can get more revenue for Jefferson County," Boyer said. "There also will be evening court instead of only daytime court and offenses will be prosecuted under county law."

Passage of the new code only affects unincorporaetd areas of Jefferson County, which has 80 percent of the county's population, Boyer said. Cities already have the abilty to prosecute the crimes in their own municipal courts.

Reuter said revenue from court fines will be considered unanticipated revenue in the county budget. She said the county court system and the sheriff's department likely will receive additional funds as a result of the county's new ability to collect court fines.