If a defendant is granted a deferred sentence condition (DSC), must they pay court costs?

When a defendant is granted a deferred sentence condition (DSC), they are typically still responsible for paying court costs, regardless of the status of their sentence. This requirement ensures that the administrative expenses associated with the court proceedings are covered. Court costs are considered obligatory fees that are assessed to all individuals involved in legal proceedings, and a DSC does not exempt a defendant from this obligation.

The financial responsibility connected with court costs is designed to uphold the judicial system's funding needs and to ensure that defendants contribute to the costs incurred during their legal process. Even in instances where a defendant may be afforded leniencies, such as a deferred sentence, the expectation remains that any associated costs must be settled.

In contrast, other options might imply non-payment under certain conditions, which is not the case with court costs in situations involving deferred sentences.