TOPEKA — A committee formed at the direction of the Kansas Supreme Court has made 18 recommendations to improve the bond system in municipal courts.

Brenda Stoss, municipal court judge from Salina and New Cambria, led the committee. She said municipal courts should be able to consider factors that affect individuals’ ability to pay when setting bond, rather than using a one-size-fits-all bond schedule.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports other recommendations include increasing credit for community service to satisfy court sanctions, alternatives to driver’s license suspensions for traffic citation cases, allowing judges to modify mandatory minimum fines if a defendant isn’t able to pay, and training and education on the rights of defendants and changes that are implemented.

The implementation of the recommendations could involve minor tweaks to municipal systems or state legislation.