Marion County Increases Contribution to Justice Center

The Marion County Commissioners Monday agreed to tide the Juvenile Justice Center in Hannibal over financially until the end of the year.

At the request of Judge Rachel Bringer Shepherd, the commissioners agreed to contribute an extra $50,000 to the center for what is known as its maintenance of effort expenses through the end of 2018.

Judge Shepherd told the commission that the county’s annual allocation of over $148,000 for these expenses is about to run out.

The center’s expenses have been rising because of the increased cost of hiring attorneys to represent youth who enter the court system through the Justice Center.

The commission will meet with Judge Shepherd in November to see if the county’s line item contribution to the center needs to adjusted for 2019.