If a defendant discharges a fine and costs by jail credit, the city is liable for payment of the court costs to the State Comptroller.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. The city pays the court costs directly to the defendant
• D. The state pays the costs

Answer: (B)

Jail credit reduces the amount a defendant owes by counting time served in jail toward the monetary obligation. If the time served covers the entire fine and costs, there is no remaining balance to remit to the State Comptroller. Therefore, saying that the city is automatically liable to pay court costs to the Comptroller simply because jail credit was used isn’t correct. The state share of court costs is only paid to the Comptroller if there is money owed after applying jail credit and other credits; when the balance is zero, nothing is paid.