New Policy on Court Costs with Felony Cases

Just like the County Courts, the District Courts of Bell County are now requesting that defendants have all of their court costs available at the time of the sentencing hearing.  Here is the memo signed by the criminal court judges which explains the policy in detail.

As stated therein, this policy applies to all defendants, whether in jail or out on bond.  Obviously, though, if the defendant is indigent and serving a term in prison, then that defendant may not have to pay court costs on the date of sentencing.  Whether such a defendant must pay has to be determined on a case-by-case basis, and a qualified criminal defense attorney should be consulted.

If, on the other hand, a defendant is being granted a term of community supervision (probation), then that defendant will very likely need to have his or her court costs available on the day the defendant is given probation.  If a defendant cannot even come up with the court costs on the day they are asking the judge to put them on probation, what chance does that defendant have of successfully completing the entire term of probation with all of the other fees and costs associated with it?  With that in mind, I am confident that a judge would think twice before agreeing to put someone on probation who starts off so poorly.

If, despite a defendant’s best efforts, a defendant cannot come up with all of his or her court costs, then the judge may be able to postpone the payment of court costs for up to thirty days.  The defendant’s attorney can make that request for the defendant.