Hearing held in Springfield-Greene County jail lawsuit

(From the City of Springfield)

Judge John D. Beger of the 25th Judicial Court of Missouri heard arguments Nov. 3, on the City of Springfield’s motion for partial summary judgment in a lawsuit filed by the City to gain access to the City-County Consolidated Justice Center (City-County Jail).

The City, County and Sheriff had the opportunity to present arguments in support and in opposition to the City’s motion at the Summary Judgment hearing. Judge Beger has taken the issue under advisement.

The lawsuit, filed in July 2015, in the Greene County Circuit Court, sought a declaratory judgment on Sheriff Jim Arnott’s contractual requirement to accept City’s inmates arrested for municipal offenses. Other counts which were argued as a part of the City’s motion for summary judgement included a request for injunctive relief, and specific performance to require the Sheriff to accept municipal prisoners while the lawsuit is ongoing.

In 1997, Greene County voters approved a law enforcement sales tax (LEST) to fund several community initiatives, including the City-County Jail. At that time, the City and County entered into a written contract related to housing of the City’s prisoners. That intergovernmental agreement (IGA) determines the use of LEST revenue.

As part of the IGA, the City, County and then-Sheriff agreed that the “Sheriff shall accept all municipal, county or federal prisoners brought to the jail.