Revenue dipped but the caseload remained consistent in Tate County Justice Court in February.
The monthly justice court settlement includes of a decrease in income of nearly $12,000 from $60,521 in January to $48,849 in February. TCJC also handled a total of 302 cases last month – 159 criminal and 143 civil – a slight boost from 285 cases – 181 criminal and 104 civil – in January.
The biggest portion of February revenue came from general fines with $15,503 in collections. TCJC generated $7,911 for traffic violations, $5,606 for uninsured motorists and $814 for other misdemeanor offenses.
In December, $17,407 was earned from general fines, $8,155 for traffic violations, $5,270 for uninsured motorists and $1,444 for other misdemeanor offenses. TCJC generated $10,084 for traffic violations, $4,350 for uninsured motorists and $1,667 for other misdemeanor offenses in January.
Individual Mississippi justice courts have jurisdiction over small claims civil cases involving amounts of $3,500 or less, misdemeanor criminal cases and any traffic offense occurring in the county involving the Tate County Sheriff's Office or Mississippi Highway Patrol.
Justice court judges also sign warrants, set bonds, conduct preliminary hearings in felony criminal cases, issue temporary protective orders and approve search warrants.
