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| Knox County Sheriff: New Tickets Grant Second Chance to Offenders |
The Knox County Board is endorsing a program brought forth by the sheriff which could give offenders a second chance as well as creating more money for the county.
Last week, the Knox County Board unanimously approved administrative tickets for certain offenses where the $50 fines would no longer have a portion of that ticket going to the State of Illinois.
Knox County Sheriff David Clague says some of the offenses include minor traffic violations including speeding or stop sign violations, criminal cases such as simple battery or truancy or misdemeanors and cases that are not a felony. Clague tells WGIL administering administrative tickets can also lesson the burden on the court system.
"Trials, I believe, have been increased," Clague said. "By doing it this way, it not only gives the offender a second chance, it not only gives revenue to the county, but it also will relieve some of the cases that typically that (offender) would go to the courthouse to pay the fine or go to court."
Clague says individuals who have been given an administrative ticket will have ten days in which to pay the fine at the Sheriff's Department. The money paid for the ticket then goes to the Knox County general fund. If people choose not to pay the fine, the case will be turned over the the State's Attorney's Office for review.
Clague says programs like this and charging inmates who stay in the Knox County Jail money generate income for the department and the area. He says the money brought in could potentially keep workers employed, and Clague says if they can do that, he's done his job.
The issuing of administrative tickets, according to the sheriff, could begin as early as October. |
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| 08 31 09 by Newsroom |
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