Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Criminal Justice topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bozeman municipal court to accept food donations for fine credit Sept. 5
Summary
Judge Carolina Tierney announced an inaugural Food for Fines program on Sept. 5 at the Bozeman Public Safety Center: defendants may bring nonperishable food for $10 credit per item (max 20 items/$200) toward qualifying fines; certain cases (restitution, active warrants, deferred prosecution, community service alternatives) are ineligible.
Judge Carolina Tierney, one of Bozeman Municipal Court’s judges, outlined a new Food for Fines event to address food insecurity while reducing defendants’ outstanding fines.
“Defendants will receive $10 credit for each nonperishable food item that is donated with a maximum credit of 20 items or $200,” Judge Tierney said, adding that the court will host the event on Sept. 5, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. at the Bozeman Public Safety Center with HRDC volunteers accepting donations in the parking lot.
Tierney explained eligibility limits: courts may not accept donations that would be credited toward restitution owed to a victim, nor may donors receive credit for defendants who have active warrants, are in collections, are under a deferred prosecution agreement or are already performing community service in lieu of fines. The court will provide donation slips and assess credits through the clerks after eligibility and payment‑plan updates are confirmed.
Mayor and commissioners thanked the judges and staff for organizing the program; no action was required of the commission on this presentation.
