SEATTLE MUNI INT/

The Seattle Municipal Court imposes a mandatory $40.00 charge on all defendants convicted of a misdemeanor offense. TheMunicipal Court is the only court that can impose this charge. The charge is in addition to any other sentence imposed by the court, including any fine, probation, or suspended imposition of sentence. The funds generated by this charge are used to finance the operation of the city's community courts. Community courts are an alternative sentencing program that offers low-level offenders the opportunity to complete community service in lieu of incarceration. The program is designed to reduce recidivism and improve public safety. The $40.00 charge helps to offset the costs of operating the community courts. In addition, the funds generated by the charge are used to support Justice reinvestment initiatives in the city's neighborhoods. Justice reinvestment is a data-driven approach to reducing crime and improving public safety that focuses on investing in neighborhoods rather than building more jails and prisons. By helping to finance these programs, the $40.00 charge plays an important role in making Seattle a safer place to live.