NCJ Number
117405
Date Published
Unknown
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Reports from various parts of the Nation indicate that technology exists to improve the effectiveness of fine collection. This development might encourage judges to make greater use of the fine as the sole sanction for many criminal offenses.
Abstract
Most judges view fine collection as a major impediment to their wider use. The organizational context of fine collection, with its dispersion of responsibility and lack of incentives, undermines a strong effort to enforce monetary judgments. Even given these problems, there are courts serious about fine collection and enforcement. They use collection methods that produce a high proportion of paid fines (as high as 95 percent in some cases). Fine-collection methods used in various State and local courts include installment payments, credit cards, computerized recordkeeping systems, telemarketing to contact offenders about fine payments, and the use of private collection agencies. Courts often fail to take advantage of these technologies, however, because of the organizational and political context of the courts. Since there is no direct relationship between the expenditure of resources for fine collection efforts and the size of the judicial budget, court administrators and judges have little incentive to pursue fine enforcement aggressively. Another problem is that judges often give low priority to fine collection as part of their job description. Judicial leadership is essential if the fine is to be effectively used as a sole sentence.