City Council looks at trimming court costs

The Philadelphia City Council has decided to form a committee to evaluate where money can be saved in the city’s court system. Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown sponsored the resolution. She thinks there are plenty of ways the courts can be more efficient.

A Philadelphia City Council Committee will review the criminal justice system and how it operates in an upcoming hearing. The goal is to find some savings through streamlining the process.

Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown introduced the resolution calling for hearings on Philadelphia’s courts.  She says it’s time to find some good ideas to improve how justice is dispensed in town.

“When we consider the fact that the state does not reimburse the city for its court costs,” she says. “Given that confluence of factors, we do take a more laser beam look at how the system operates with hopes that there can be some efficiencies.”

The councilwoman says during the city’s budget hearings she heard testimony that shows there are still many problems within the criminal justice system, from the District Attorney’s office to the Family and Criminal Courts.  She says the lack of cooperation and interaction leads to delays.