West Virginia Code 59-1-11a – Additional costs in certain criminal proceedings
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, in each criminal case before a circuit court in which the defendant is convicted, whether by plea or at trial, under the provisions of section two, article five, chapter seventeen-c of this code or section eighteen-b, article seven, chapter twenty of this code, there shall be imposed, in addition to other costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties as may be allowed by law, costs in the amount of $55. For purposes of further defraying the cost to the county of enforcing the provisions of section two, article five, chapter seventeen-c of this code or section eighteen-b, article seven, chapter twenty of this code and related provisions, the clerk of the circuit court shall, on or before the tenth day of the month following the month in which the costs imposed in this section were collected, remit an amount equal to the amount from each of the criminal proceedings in which the costs specified in this subsection were collected to the sheriff of the county who shall deposit the same in the General Revenue Fund of the county.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 59-1-11a
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Offense: includes every act or omission for which a fine, forfeiture, or punishment is imposed by law. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(b) In each criminal case before a circuit court upon appeal from a magistrate court in which the defendant is convicted, whether by plea or at trial in the circuit court, under the provisions of section two, article five, chapter seventeen-c of this code or section eighteen-b, article seven, chapter twenty of this code, there shall be imposed, in addition to other costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties as may be allowed by law, costs in the amount of $55. For purposes of further defraying the cost to the county of enforcing the provisions of section two, article five, chapter seventeen-c of this code or section eighteen-b, article seven, chapter twenty of this code and related provisions, the clerk of the circuit court shall, on or before the tenth day of the month following the month in which the costs imposed in this section were collected, remit an amount equal to the amount from each of the criminal proceedings in which the costs specified in this subsection were collected to the sheriff of the county who shall deposit the same in the General Revenue Fund of the county. The provisions of this subsection shall not require payment of the costs imposed by this subsection to the circuit court where the costs have been paid in the magistrate court.
(c) In each criminal case before a circuit court upon appeal from a municipal proceeding in which the defendant is convicted, whether by plea or at trial in the circuit court, under the provisions of a municipal ordinance which has the same elements as an offense described in section two, article five, chapter seventeen-c of this code or section eighteen-b, article seven, chapter twenty of this code, there shall be imposed, in addition to other costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties as may be allowed by law, costs in the amount of $55. For purposes of further defraying the cost to the municipality of enforcing the provisions of the ordinance or ordinances described in this subsection and related provisions, the clerk of the circuit court shall, on or before the tenth day of the month following the month in which the costs imposed in this section were collected, remit an amount equal to the amount from each of the criminal proceedings in which the costs specified in this subsection were collected to the clerk of the municipal court or other person designated to receive fines and costs for the municipality from which the conviction was appealed who shall deposit these moneys in the General Revenue Fund of the municipality. The provisions of this subsection shall not require payment of the costs imposed by this subsection to the circuit court where the costs have been paid to the clerk of the municipal court or other person designated to receive fines and costs for the municipality.
(d) The provisions of this section shall be effective after June 30, 2004.