Mississippi § 45-39-17 - Certain localities authorized to assess surcharge upon persons fined for certain misdemeanors to fund local crime stoppers programs.

§ 45-39-17. Certain localities authorized to assess surcharge upon persons fined for certain misdemeanors to fund local crime stoppers programs.

In addition to any other monetary penalties and other penalties imposed by law, any county or municipality by ordinance may assess an additional surcharge in an amount not to exceed Two Dollars ($2.00) on each person upon whom a county, justice or municipal court imposes a fine or other penalty for any misdemeanor other than offenses relating to vehicular parking or registration if there is established to the benefit of the citizens of the county or municipality a local crime stoppers program which is not authorized to receive funds under local and private legislation. The proceeds from the surcharge may be used by a county or municipality only to fund that county’s or municipality’s support of the local crime stoppers program as authorized by Section 45-39-15, Mississippi Code of 1972. The proceeds from the surcharge imposed by this section shall be deposited into a special fund in the Department of Public Safety’s Office of Public Safety Planning which shall promulgate rules and procedures relating to the administration of the special fund and the disbursement of monies in the fund to participating counties and municipalities. The maximum amount that a county or municipality may receive from the special fund shall be an amount equal to the deposits made into the fund by that entity, less one percent (1%) to be retained by the Office of Public Safety Planning to defray the costs of administering the special fund. Interest earned on the special fund shall remain in the fund and shall be used by the Office of Public Safety Planning to further defray the costs of administering the special fund.