The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-29
Criminal Characterization Taylor
Corrected.


JANUARY &c, 1876.
Editors Richmond Dispatch
have noticed in the EReport Of the Au.
ditor Of Public Accounts to the General
Assembly of Virginia for tie year ending
the 30,h of September, 1872" comparative
statement showing the monthly eXpenGi-
lures for criminal charges Of the two fiscal
years 1874 and 1919. This statement is
made for the purpose of exhibiting the fact
that the act approved March %. 1873, en-
titled "an act to amend and reenact certain
sections of the Code Of 1879, in relation 10
the criminal jurisdiction Of county courts
has not had the effect of reducing the crmi-
nal charges in the State. as was anticipated.
The Auditor says, $50 far from it, the
monthly exhibit, commencing with April,
1915, shows an average monthly increase
over the expenditures of the corresponding
months Of the preceding year OF Sl,72S.61,
or an aggregate increase OF S1O,3Il.G6 for six
months" l propose to examine his reason
ing aud his figures, and to see if they sustain
his conclusion.
The act referred to by the Auditor in re-
lai0n 10 The crimina! jurisdiction of county
courts, approved Marcn 29tb, 1870, restored
to those courts jurisdiction in cases OF felony.
1t had been ascertained by experiment that
the circuit courts, having only two, or at
most three sessions year, and having cX.
elusive Jurisdiction in felony cases, could not
keep the jlls clear Of criminals. Ii was
thought that the county courts, having
monthly sessions, and thus being able 10 give
persons charged with crime speedy trial,
would lessen the expense in that regard very
much.
The act extending their Jurisdiction fee
Acts 1915. pages 364-5, does not specify
the time when it shall 80 into operation.
Consequently under the general law [See
Code of 1878, chapter -, section 3, page
1911 it did not take effect until the 1st day
OF July, 1875. Therefore, during the first
nine months Of the fiscal year ending 30th
September, 1915, the circuit courts alone had
jurisdiction in felony cases. Upon examlna-
ton of the Auditors figures it will be
observed that for the first three
months of the fiscal year the increased
charges for criminal expenditures were
S12.29S.94; for tue second three months,
So, COG 80; and for the third three months,
= ,242 4l-making total increase Tor the
nine months, when the county courts did not
have Jurisdiction in felony cases, of SIG l4l.9O
out of the Increase for the whole year oil
$40 Pr Is. During the months OF July,
August, and September, when the county
courts did have such jurisdiction, the increase
WIS only S3,12925-less than Que half of the
Increase for any other three months OF the
ti.cal year.
II must also be remembered that the cir.
cult courts left large number Of criminals
in the jails Of the Commonwealth to be tired
| in the county courts, after the change in
| their jurisdiction, and that their jail fees
were certified to The Auditor aud paid after
their trial. think, therefore, that the AL
dtor's conclusions arc not Justified by his
figures. II they demonstrate anything it is
that the change in the law, had it gone into
operation at the commencement OF The fiscal
year, would have saved to the Common.
wealth more than ore bali Of the increased
expenditures for criminal charges Tor that
year. Putting it at one half, the amount
| would be SLICES 57-l sum we'll worth say
ing in the present Impoverished condition OF
the State. hESELa.