It is a basic obligation of local government to provide for public safety. Some municipalities have abdicated this role in the name of the Almighty Dollar, responsible government understands the importance of dealing with the front-end of crime. Citizens might be annoyed by a parking ticket here and there, but they also appreciate when local streets and neighborhoods are patrolled, or when a cop responds to an emergency in minutes. Counties provide for the back-end of crime, the prosecution and sentencing of criminal offenders. This is by no means discretionary, even when it costs money. If a person is jailed, for example, the County has to pay the medical bills if he gets sick. Medicaid won't pay. It would be nice if the fines and costs imposed would pay for the County's expenses. But at this moment, he county is owed $80 million in unpaid fines. In addition, innocent victims are owed $41.3 million in restitution to compensate them when they are fleeced out of their life's savings or incur medical bills as a result of violence. Finally, $47.2 million in outstanding fees is owed. In some cases, that money will never be collected because these convicted criminals simply lack the means. But in some cases, Defendants are just thumbing their noses at the system. They have the money. They can afford to pay. They just refuse.
When he was on Council, Lamont McClure
spearheaded an effort to hire a debt collector. Now he's Executive, and he just hired two debt collectors - Modern Recovery Solutions (Newmanstown, PA) and its sister company, MRS EBO, LCC. These companies were selected as a result of competitive bidding.
These companies can keep up to 25% for every account closed.
12 comments:
How far back does this figure represent? This is a rather larage sum.
Somehow i suspect that if the collection agency does shake some money out of those people the fines are paid first with restitution to victims a low priority.
The ratio of restitution to fine recovery would be an interesting number to see.
As to the po-po writing tickets they have to support themselves.
The police of course deny this but the reality s that the officer gets to pay for his or her salary by handing out tickets.
It would be interesting to see how much the Court issues in fines vs their cost of operation.
I suspect that the Courts work just like the cops--they fund their operation in part by the amount of fines they issue.
The County attempted to collect these costs as far back as twenty years ago. It doesn't work and it won't work until the courts start co-operating with the County. The Courts should not let the criminal off of probation until their complete debt to society is paid and that includes restitution. It is that simple. The judges and the court system are to blame more than anyone else.
5:02 is a clown.
Why not offer forgiveness for 80% on the dollar, First, then proceeded with collection agencies?
7:13, you can only keep someone on probation for so long.
1:26, that figure goes back many years.
There is a simple solution, I'm a Constable, issue a warrant and I will get compensation for the county.
Debt collection agencies do not work.
Fred
I like Fred's idea. Thank you, Fred.
The whole system is in desert need of a overhaul! This is in no way suggesting just fines and costs. The stench of corruption hang in the gloom that is hovering over the Lehigh valley!
There are some good people but like the stench in Allentown that infects many.
Fred’s idea would work only if a Defendant is still on probation.
Bernie - I have served fines and costs warrants for Monroe County Common Pleas where the defendant was NOT on probation or parole. I don't know what their procedures are or how they go about this but it was for fines, costs and restitution warrant and the person I had in custody was off probation for 5 years at the time.
Fred
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