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Using Civil and Administrative Remedies To Collect Fines and Fees

NCJ Number
137895
Journal
State Court Journal Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1992) Pages: 4-10,34
Author(s)
G F Cole
Date Published
1992
Length
8 pages
Annotation
In 1990, the Hudson County (New Jersey) Fines/Restitution Collection and Enforcement Project was established to test the applicability of civil and administrative remedies, proven successful in collecting child support payments, to the collection of fines, restitution, and other assessments imposed on criminal defendants.
Abstract
Before initiation of the project, offenders who defaulted on their financial obligations were given a notice of violation by their probation officer and taken to court. In most cases, the time for payment was extended; offenders were rarely incarcerated. Most offenders placed on probation in Hudson County were single, male, and had no dependents; about half were employed. The techniques used by the project to collect fines and restitution included delinquency notices and payment plans, wage and other asset executions, liens on property, State income tax and homestead rebate intercepts, suspension of driver's license, and nonpayment court hearings. While the program was not highly cost effective, it stimulated innovations in the collection process that can be expected to improve compliance by offenders with financial sanctions. 11 notes and 4 figures

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