photo by: Mike Yoder

Lawrence City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St., is pictured Thursday, July 7, 2016.

City leaders will soon receive information about the operations of Lawrence Municipal Court, including trends regarding the average traffic citation cost, cash bonds posted, and the percent of people being held in the jail on municipal offenses.

As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will receive a presentation from staff in the city’s attorney’s office about Municipal Court operations. The update is related to commission goals regarding safety and security that have been established as part of the city’s strategic plan.

Examples of violations handled through municipal court can include traffic citations and driving under the influence, among other violations, according to presentation materials. Penalties can include one or more of the following: jail time or house arrest; fines and fees; community service; no contact orders; drug testing; non-reporting probation; treatment or classes; supervised probation; restitution; and alcohol/drug evaluation, mental health evaluation, or a domestic violence offender assessment. Community service allows defendants to credit $10 per hour worked toward their fines.

In 2021, the average daily jail population at the Douglas County Jail was 141 people, about 9.1 of whom were being held on municipal court violations, or about 6.5%. In 2020, the average daily jail population was 153, about 10.6 of whom were being held on municipal court violations, or about 7%. In 2019, the average daily jail population was 219, about 25.3 of whom were being held on municipal court violations, or about 11.6%.

The amount of cash bonds posted has been generally decreasing since 2014, according to the presentation. In 2014, the city collected more than $600,000 in cash bonds, an amount that declined steadily to about $200,000 in 2019; about $100,000 in 2020; and slightly over $100,000 in 2021.

A chart showing the history of fine/fee increases indicates amounts have not increased since 2013 and that Lawrence’s average traffic citation cost is below some nearby municipalities and Douglas County District Court. Specifically, Lawrence’s average traffic citation cost average cost is $143, compared to an average cost of $183 at Douglas County District Court. Wichita’s average cost is $176.50, Topeka’s $176, Manhattan’s $173, and Eudora’s $173. Another chart shows fees — such as a “jail fee,” public defender fee, and motion filing fee — that are charged in some Kansas courts. Lawrence charges a fingerprinting fee, a supervised probation fee and a general “court costs” fee.

Commissioners will also be updated on the city’s implementation of recommendations from a 2017 ad hoc committee appointed by the Kansas Supreme Court to review bonding practices, fines, and fees of Kansas’ municipal courts. The committee recommended 18 best practices for municipal courts. The city has implemented all but five of the recommendations, comprising three that would require legislative change; one that is in-progress; and one that the committee recommends further study of.

The Lawrence City Commission will convene at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St.