Texas Senate Bill SB192

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Relating to credit toward payment of a fine and costs for certain misdemeanants confined in jail or prison before sentencing.

Impact

The impact on state laws involves amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, particularly Article 45.014(e) and Article 45.041. This adjustment will provide additional avenues for misdemeanor offenders to mitigate their financial penalties through previously unrecognized confinement durations. By mandating judges to credit time served at a defined rate, the bill addresses potential injustices where individuals sentenced to confinement for unrelated charges might struggle to pay fines for separate misdemeanors.

Summary

SB192 relates to the provisions around the credit that individuals held for certain misdemeanors can receive toward the payment of fines and costs. The bill allows for defendants to receive credits for time served in jail or prison before sentencing. This applies specifically to individuals confined after the commission of the misdemeanor offenses, allowing for a more equitable adjustment of fines based on the time already served during their confinement. The credit is set to be calculated at a rate of $200 per day for each day of confinement.

Contention

Points of contention surrounding SB192 may arise regarding its implementation and effectiveness in providing financial relief to misdemeanor offenders. While proponents argue that this bill enhances fairness in the judicial system by acknowledging the time served, critics may contend that such measures could inadvertently encourage non-payment of fines or complicate the judicial proceedings further. Additionally, questions could surface regarding the budgetary impacts on local jurisdictions that collect these fines and manage the implications for their law enforcement and judicial costs.