Asheville may soon be getting a nuisance court. It would meet at least once a month, at a minimum cost of $25,000 a day. Its purpose would be to decrease the caseloads for Buncombe County courts. Crimes to be addressed would include things like public urination and panhandling. Currently, persons picked up for nuisance crimes will typically spend the night in jail because they can’t post bail. Then, because they have a record for not showing up for trials, they will spend a few more nights in jail. When the case goes to trial, they will usually be sentenced to serve more time. Sooner or later, they will repeat the process.
Said Asheville Police Chief Bill Hogan:
The motivation to clear the docket is obviously there. But when you arrest a prostitute 44 times, handcuff them and send them to jail and nothing happens, to me there should be some sort of red flag.
