Hope Bill Provides Counties Greater Discretion to Curb Crime

Legislation would allow counties to offer larger rewards for information leading to arrest
Friday, January 18, 2019

LANSING — State Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt) introduced House Bill 4045 last week, which would provide counties more discretion in the amount of money they can offer for information leading to the arrest and conviction of wanted criminals in the county.

“Counties should have the freedom to use their resources to protect their communities,” Hope said. “Offering a reward for information is an important tool that can be used to ensure public safety. My bill provides a county’s Board of Commissioners with more room to assess the danger and offer an adequate reward, hopefully leading to more people offering information, and keeping our communities safe.”

In providing for rewards of up to only $20,000, HB 4045 helps counties maintain fiscal responsibility while still enabling them to provide a reasonable compensatory amount for the times. Under current law, counties can offer up to $2000, a number first set in 1927. Adjusted for inflation that reward would be worth approximately $27,000 in 2018 dollars.