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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.
“The overall goal of these changes is to improve trust within the community and increase transparency, particularly within Ferguson’s courts and police department,” Councilman Mark Byrne said in a statement.
“We want to demonstrate to residents that we take their concerns extremely seriously. That’s why we’re initiating new changes within our local police force and in our courts.”
While the city is making these changes, officials will hold ward meetings to get public input.
Some of the proposals are on the agenda for the City Council meeting at 7 tonight at Greater Grace Church, 3690 Pershall Road.
Officials said they hope this change will encourage the municipal judge and prosecutor to use alternative sentencing methods, like community service, as punishment.
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.
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