Page 182 - City of Westlake FY20 Budget

Goals and Objectives

16 Municipal Court

Program Service Description
The Municipal Court performs the duties necessary to support municipal judicial functions, assist the
public and manage court operations. The program upholds the integrity of the court and builds
public trust by providing unbiased quality service and accurate information delivered in an efficient,
positive and professional manner.

Program Trends
Processes consistent workload of approximately 5,800 new case filings annually.
The Court is required to automatically set an additional Court setting if the defendant fails to appear
at the first setting and all cases with pleas require a show cause hearing to determine the reason the
fines and fees were not paid on time. This process adds thirty to sixty (30 – 60) days to the time
frame of a warrant being issued.
Legislative changes have increased the amount of Court costs the Court is required to collect with
very little additional revenue going to the Town.
The court is required to consider the defendants ability to pay and consider indigency or credit for
time served on requests from defendants.

2018-2019 Highlights
Two court staff members achieved their Level l court clerk’s certification. They are both in the
process of achieving their Level II Certification.
All cases are current and set for court in a fast and efficient manner. Trials are held within 60-90
days from issuance of the citation.
All warrants are maintained on a regular basis to ensure that they are accurate. A regular audit is
completed with the actual case files as well as the active warrants in the command center at the
Keller Police Department.
Warrants over six (6) years of age and deemed uncollectible are dismissed through the proper
channels each year to allow the court to concentrate on collectible cases.

2019-2020 Goals and Objectives
Continue to audit outstanding warrants that are over 6 years old. Close case files to reduce back log
in the Court and Law Enforcement Systems. These cases are considered uncollectible or
prosecutable by the prosecutor as well as the Municipal Court Judge.
Maintain the paper light system to reduce paper usage and improve procedures.
Implement the School Resource Officer/Marshal’s position to increase security, collection and
accessibility.
Take advantage of the local no cost court training within the metroplex to increase knowledge,
morale and confidence of the court employees through the North Texas Court Clerks Association.
Implement a Juvenile Case Manager Position to oversee the juvenile legally mandated
requirements.

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