The cost of serious drug-related crime in Bartholomew County isn’t confined to expanding overcrowded jails or adding more officers.
It also means increasing costs within the the county’s judicial system.
“We’ve done a lot of sentencing hearings for a lot more serious offenses this year,” Bartholomew Superior Court 1 Judge James Worton said Tuesday during an appearance before the county council.
Unexpected costs have resulted in a $30,000 professional services fund for the court dwindling down to $3,654, with the year not even half over, Worton said.
A second fund earmarked for other services and charges started out with $18,000 on Jan. 1, but now has $3,654 remaining, the judge said.
A number of factors are contributing to higher costs, Worton said.
One trial was held in Worton’s court last year, but the fourth trial of 2018 is set to begin Tuesday. The defendant is Nathan Brown, a 25-year-old Florida man charged with three felonies: disarming a law enforcement official and two counts of battery against officers.
When offenses get more serious, the required investment in personnel, time and money goes up, the judge said.
In one of this year’s earlier trials, the court was required by state law to hire two certified Spanish translators. So far in 2018, Worton’s court has paid $5,700 for interpreters to attend hearings, he said.
When indigent criminals face an increasing risk of being sent to prison, courts are also required to pay more money for appeals, Worton said.
During the first six months of the year, 10 appeals were filed requiring hearing transcriptions, which has cost Superior Court 1 about $5,031, the judge said.
Meanwhile, it appears the court will be forced to pay out an additional $25,500 for appeal-related expenses before the end of December, he said.
“This is a very odd year,” Worton told the council.
The judge said he can’t definitely say what’s behind the increase in serious crime, but he agreed with local law enforcement officials who believe it’s primarily drug-related.
The consequences of drug addiction is one reason why defense attorneys and public defenders are increasingly requesting mental health competency evaluations, which the judge said requires a court to hire two different mental health professionals.
One evaluation alone will cost taxpayers $1,200 to $2,000, Worton told the council.
“I can’t tell a defendant you are not getting a jury trial because we’re out of money,” Worton said.
Council member Jorge Morales agreed, saying the council had no choice but to approve an additional appropriation of $47,500 to Bartholomew Superior Court 1 to make up for shortfall in both funds.
“Our hands are tied,” council member Chris Ogle said. “It seems about 90 percent of the money we spend is required by state and federal law.”
A key question posed by council member Laura DeDomenic is whether these higher expenses are an anomaly or a growing trend.
“It’s too soon to tell,” Worton replied. “I hope it’s not the new norm, or we’re going to be left very far behind.”
