It now costs more to commit a felony in Knox County.
A $45 fee is tacked to every new felony conviction. The state-wide program is called "Victim's Assistance Fund".
Tennessee Lawmakers approved the fee nearly five years ago.
Knox was the only county excluded from the program, until last year. State Representative Ryan Haynes of Knoxville fixed the glitch. According to Haynes, the delay was due to Knox County's charter form of government.
The felon fee normally helps fund victim organizations.
In Knox County, the money is given to the Family Justice Center.
Russ Jensen, a Family Justice Center board member, said the organization received more than $40,000 from the special program last fiscal year. Jensen believes the program will be even more profitable this year.
"If you take the last five months in particular, it's trending more toward $60,000," Jensen said.
"None of us knew how much it would generate," said Amy Dilworth, Executive Director of the Family Justice Center. "So, the board said 'let's collect it for a year, see what that is, and then we can start planning.'"
The FJC receives the felon funds monthly.
"It's coming out of the criminal court system. Not from tax payers. Not from victims," Jensen said.
The FJC's finance committee will meet in October to divvy up revenue from last fiscal year's Victim's Assistance Fund.