HB 634 -- Costs of Investigation and Prosecution of Certain
Criminal Cases

Sponsor:  Ruzicka

This bill requires any person who pleads guilty to or is found
guilty of a misdemeanor or felony offense other than a traffic
violation or any person who has his or her probation or parole
revoked to be liable for the costs of specified personnel
involved in the investigation and prosecution of his or her case.
In its main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Requires the court to include these costs in every judgment
rendered against the convicted person;

(2)  Requires the court to impose the costs of investigation and
prosecution in an appropriate amount, regardless of the
defendant's ability to pay;

(3)  Specifies that the court must require a defendant to pay the
costs within a specific period of time or in specified
installments;

(4)  Specifies that if a defendant is placed on probation or
parole, payment of any of these costs must be a condition of
probation or parole, and the court can revoke probation or parole
if the defendant fails to pay these costs;

(5)  Requires the prosecuting or circuit attorney, prior to
adjudication, to file with the court a statement that contains
the requested amount of costs for the office, for each
investigative agency involved, and for any probation or parole
office involved;

(6)  Specifies that costs for misdemeanor cases and probation and
parole revocation hearings must be between $50 and $300 per case
and costs for felony cases must be between $100 and $750 per
case, unless the prosecuting or circuit attorney submits a
detailed statement along with sufficient supporting documentation
demonstrating the need for the imposition of costs higher than
the designated range;

(7)  Specifies that costs can include any actual expenses
incurred in conducting the investigation and prosecution of the
case, including salaries of employees of the prosecuting or
circuit attorney's office, the investigative agencies, and the
probation and parole office; and

(8)  Requires the circuit clerk to collect and dispense cost
payments in any case.

Missouri House of Representatives
96th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 9, 2011 at 1:23 pm