State Courts Underfunded Despite Rising Court Fees
In Cleburne County Alabama, a speeding ticket could cost you about $20. But after the fees kick in, you could end up owing almost $300. Alabama Media Group political commentator Kyle Whitmire reports that, while the state is staunchly against new taxes, rising court fees are being used more and more to fund general government operations.
But not enough goes back into supporting and adequately funding the court system.
“In Alabama, we’ve been doing a good job of using court revenue for things that don’t have much if anything to do with courts, but we’ve been doing a pretty terrible job actually funding those same courts,” says Whitmire.
That’s according to a study by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA), commissioned by the Alabama State Bar.
Now Whitmire says the state’s budget crisis is only making the situation worse.
“We have a budget that’s proposed where the courts would actually be putting more money into the general fund than they would be getting out,” says Whitmire.
Q&A: How harm reduction can help mitigate the opioid crisis
Maia Szalavitz discusses harm reduction's effectiveness against drug addiction, how punitive policies can hurt people who need pain medication and more.
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring a Community Engagement Producer
The Gulf States Newsroom is seeking a curious, creative and collaborative professional to work with our regional team to build up engaged journalism efforts.
Gambling bills face uncertain future in the Alabama legislature
This year looked to be different for lottery and gambling legislation, which has fallen short for years in the Alabama legislature. But this week, with only a handful of meeting days left, competing House and Senate proposals were sent to a conference committee to work out differences.
Alabama’s racial, ethnic health disparities are ‘more severe’ than other states, report says
Data from the Commonwealth Fund show that the quality of care people receive and their health outcomes worsened because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What’s your favorite thing about Alabama?
That's the question we put to those at our recent News and Brews community pop-ups at Hop City and Saturn in Birmingham.
Q&A: A former New Orleans police chief says it’s time the U.S. changes its marijuana policy
Ronal Serpas is one of 32 law enforcement leaders who signed a letter sent to President Biden in support of moving marijuana to a Schedule III drug.
