Title
Ordinance to Amend and Reenact the City Code of the City of Hampton, Virginia by Amending Chapter 1, Titled “General Provisions", Section 1-14, Titled “Assessment of Additional Court Costs in Criminal and Traffic Cases for Courthouse and Courtroom Security"
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Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
See Discussion.
Discussion:
Code of Virginia Sec. 53.1-120 provides that each sheriff shall ensure that the courthouses and courtrooms within his jurisdiction are secure from violence and disruption and shall designate deputies for this purpose. And, any county or city, through its governing body, may assess a sum not in excess of $20 as part of the costs in each criminal or traffic case in its district or circuit court in which the defendant is convicted of a violation of any statute or ordinance. The imposition of such assessment shall be by ordinance of the governing body. The assessment shall be collected by the clerk of the court in which the case is heard, remitted to the treasurer, and held by the treasurer to be appropriated by the governing body to the sheriff's office. The assessment shall be used solely for the funding of courthouse security personnel, and, if requested by the sheriff, equipment and other personal property used in connection with courthouse security.
The City of Hampton first enacted this fee as part of its Fiscal Year 2011 Budget. The fee then adopted was $10, and has not been increased since that time. The current action proposes to increase that fee to maximum amount currently authorized.
Notice of this fee increase was included in the advertisements for the public hearings for the City Manager's Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 that ran in the Daily Press on April 13, 2025 and May 4, 2025.
Fiscal Impact: This fee increase will provide additional funding to the Sheriff for the performance of this vital courtroom and courthouse support.
Recommendation:
May 7, 2025: Introduction
May 14, 2025: Approv...
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