Which of the following is true about jail credit for court costs?

• A. Jail credit cannot discharge court costs.
• B. Jail credit can discharge court costs only for felonies.
• C. Jail credit can discharge court costs.
• D. Jail credit is never allowed for any purposes.

Answer: (C)

Jail credit is the time you spend in jail that is applied toward the court-ordered obligations from a case, including court costs. Because that time serves as part of the punishment for the offense, it reduces the amount you owe for costs, and if the credit covers the costs in full, those costs are discharged. This isn’t limited to felonies; jail credit can apply toward court costs in many cases, depending on the statute. So statements saying jail credit cannot discharge court costs, or that it applies only to felonies, or that it’s never allowed, don’t fit.