The mission of Court Financial Services is to post, account for and disburse funds ordered by the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County. Court Financial Services, in conjunction with other court and county departments, employs proactive measures to maximize collections of all fines, costs and restitutions. This includes, but is not limited to, funds from Adult Probation and Parole, Diagnostic Services, Juvenile Court, Community Services, Domestic Relations and the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.
The Court Financial Services Department processes the costs, fines, fees and restitution from individual defendants by monitoring payments made to the court. These funds, when collected, are then disbursed to the Delaware County Treasurer, the Commonwealth, municipalities and victims of crime.
The Court Financial Services Department accepts cash, money orders, checks, credit/debit cards and online payments through E-pay. In addition, payroll deductions are used when appropriate. Court Financial Services has begun utilizing a third party collection agency in an effort to collect past due accounts. Also, civil judgments are used to collect money from defendants who have the ability to pay but are unwilling to accept responsibility for their actions. As of 1995, some defendants have judgments filed against them, which remain on an individual's record until satisfied. This has given the Court added leverage in collection, as defendants will be unable to obtain future credit, buy a home or make a large purchase until these judgments are satisfied.
Court Financial Services utilizes the Public Welfare Act of 1996 in an attempt to collect money from accounts which have traditionally been uncollectible. All clients with outstanding fines, costs and restitution who wish to receive public assistance must be on a payment plan with this office. This program has been highly successful.
The staff of Court Financial Services is effectively and selectively cross-trained. However, the staff specializes in specific job functions to maximize collections.