(a) After a defendant has been convicted of a felony offense, the judge may order the defendant to repay all or part of a reward paid by a local crime stoppers program.
(b) In determining whether the defendant must repay the reward or part of the reward, the court shall consider:
(1) The ability of the defendant to make the payment and the financial hardship on the defendant to make the required payment; and
(2) The importance of the information to the prosecution of the defendant as provided by the arresting officer or the attorney for the state with due regard for the confidentiality of the local crime stoppers program's records.
(c)
(1) If a judge orders a defendant to repay a reward or part of a reward, the court shall assess this cost against the defendant in the same manner as other costs of prosecution are assessed against a defendant.
(2) The court may order the defendant to:
(A) Pay the entire amount required when sentence is pronounced;
(B) Pay the entire amount required at a later date specified by the court; or
(C) Pay specified portions of the required amount at designated intervals.
(d) If a judge orders a defendant to repay a reward or part of a reward, a statement of the amount of the payment or payments required to be made shall be included in the judgment.
(e) After receiving a payment from a person ordered to make the payment under this section, the circuit clerk shall:
(1) Make a record of the payment;
(2) Deduct a one-time five dollar ($5.00) processing fee from the reward repayment;
(3) Forward the payment to the designated local crime stoppers program; and
(4) Make a record of the payment's being forwarded.