JEFFERSON PARISH -
The future of Crimestoppers is in jeopardy. The agency could lose some of its public funding in Jefferson Parish.
Crimestoppers has been around for nearly 30 years, helping law enforcement put criminals in jail. Now the organization faces losing some of its funding in Jefferson Parish. On every traffic ticket there's a $2 fee that goes to Crimestoppers and there are a number of other fees as well. One judge has ruled that the fee is unconstitutional, and has suspended the collection of the $2 fee.
Darlene Custanza says legislation passed six years ago made Crimestopper programs across the state an arm of the criminal justice system, and that she says allows it to create a fee. "What crime stoppers does with the fee is a direct and present the case."
In Jefferson Parish the fees add up to about $60,000 a year. One program that could be impacted is the new billboard campaign.
From the bench Judge George Jacoby stated that Crimestoppers is not related to the operation of the court, which means it is a private entity, not a governmental body. Another hearing on the matter is set for next week.
Crimestoppers has been around for nearly 30 years, helping law enforcement put criminals in jail. Now the organization faces losing some of its funding in Jefferson Parish. On every traffic ticket there's a $2 fee that goes to Crimestoppers and there are a number of other fees as well. One judge has ruled that the fee is unconstitutional, and has suspended the collection of the $2 fee.
Darlene Custanza says legislation passed six years ago made Crimestopper programs across the state an arm of the criminal justice system, and that she says allows it to create a fee. "What crime stoppers does with the fee is a direct and present the case."
In Jefferson Parish the fees add up to about $60,000 a year. One program that could be impacted is the new billboard campaign.
From the bench Judge George Jacoby stated that Crimestoppers is not related to the operation of the court, which means it is a private entity, not a governmental body. Another hearing on the matter is set for next week.
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon
