50-State Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder Bringing transparency to areas of significant legal complexity.
Collections Infrastructure
Keyword search across all of the laws in the states. Subject-area tabs above allow you to narrow results. Click the advanced search for further refinement.
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Who may collect
Below are the collections infrastructure provisions that meet your search criteria.
61 Results
| State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | |
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California | Cal. Pen. Code § 1205(e) | Judgment imposing fine; Imprisonment pending payment; Default; Fee for processing accounts receivable; Limitation |
The defendant shall pay to the clerk of the court or the collecting agency a fee for the processing of installment accounts. This fee shall equal the administrative and clerical costs, as determined by the board of supervisors, or by the court, depending on which entity administers the account. The defendant shall pay to the clerk of the court or the collecting agency the fee established for the processing of the accounts receivable that are not to be paid in installments. The fee shall equal the administrative and clerical costs, as determined by the board of supervisors, or by the court, depending on which entity administers the account, except that the fee shall not exceed thirty dollars ($30).
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California | Cal. Pen. Code § 1205 | Judgment imposing fine; Imprisonment pending payment; Default; Fee for processing accounts receivable; Limitation |
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the clerk of the court, or the judge if there is no clerk, from turning these accounts over to another county department or a collecting agency for processing and collection.(e) The defendant shall pay to the clerk of the court or the collecting agency a fee for the processing of installment accounts. This fee shall equal the administrative and clerical costs, as determined by the board of supervisors, or by the court, depending on which entity administers the account. The defendant shall pay to the clerk of the court or the collecting agency the fee established for the processing of the accounts receivable that are not to be paid in installments. The fee shall equal the administrative and clerical costs, as determined by the board of supervisors, or by the court, depending on which entity administers the account, except that the fee shall not exceed thirty dollars ($30).
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California | Cal. Pen. Code § 1463.007(b)-(c) | Proceedings in Misdemeanor and Infraction Cases: Deduction and deposit of cost of comprehensive collection program; Minimum amount for inclusion; When debt is delinquent and subject to collection; Conditions |
(b) Once debt becomes delinquent, it continues to be delinquent and may be subject to collection by a comprehensive collection program . . . . (c) For the purposes of this section, a “comprehensive collection program” is a separate and distinct revenue collection activity that meets each of the following criteria: ... (4) The program engages in at least five of the following activities: ... (D) Contracts with one or more private debt collectors to collect delinquent debt.
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California | Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code § 19280 | Referral of certain fines, penalties, bail, forfeitures, and restitution orders to Franchise Tax Board for collection; Interest; Applicability of specified provisions |
Fines, state or local penalties, bail, forfeitures, restitution fines, restitution orders, or any other amounts imposed by a juvenile or superior court of the State of California upon a person or any other entity that are due and payable in an amount totaling no less than one hundred dollars ($100), in the aggregate, for criminal offenses, including all offenses involving a violation of the Vehicle Code, and any amounts due pursuant to Section 903.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code may, no sooner than 90 days after payment of that amount becomes delinquent, be referred by the juvenile or superior court, the county, or the state to the Franchise Tax Board for collection under guidelines prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board.
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California | Cal. Pen. Code § 1463.007 | Deduction and deposit of cost of comprehensive collection program; Minimum amount for inclusion; When debt is delinquent and subject to collection; Conditions |
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a county or court that operates a comprehensive collection program may deduct the costs of operating that program, excluding capital expenditures, from any revenues collected under that program. The costs shall be deducted before any distribution of revenues to other governmental entities required by any other law. A county or court operating a comprehensive collection program may establish a minimum base fee, fine, forfeiture, penalty, or assessment amount for inclusion in the program.
(b) Once debt becomes delinquent, it continues to be delinquent and may be subject to collection by a comprehensive collection program. Debt is delinquent and subject to collection by a comprehensive collection program if any of the following conditions is met: (1) A defendant does not post bail or appear on or before the date on which he or she promised to appear, or any lawful continuance of that date, if that defendant was eligible to post and forfeit bail. (2) A defendant does not pay the amount imposed by the court on or before the date ordered by the court, or any lawful continuance of that date. (3) A defendant has failed to make an installment payment on the date specified by the court. (c) For the purposes of this section, a “comprehensive collection program” is a separate and distinct revenue collection activity that meets each of the following criteria: (1) The program identifies and collects amounts arising from delinquent court-ordered debt, whether or not a warrant has been issued against the alleged violator. (2) The program complies with the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 1463.010. (3) The program engages in each of the following activities: (A) Attempts telephone contact with delinquent debtors for whom the program has a telephone number to inform them of their delinquent status and payment options. (B) Notifies delinquent debtors for whom the program has an address in writing of their outstanding obligation within 95 days of delinquency. (C) Generates internal monthly reports to track collections data, such as age of debt and delinquent amounts outstanding. (D) Uses Department of Motor Vehicles information to locate delinquent debtors. (E) Accepts payment of delinquent debt by credit card. (4) The program engages in at least five of the following activities: (A) Sends delinquent debt to the Franchise Tax Board’s Court-Ordered Debt Collections Program. (B) Sends delinquent debt to the Franchise Tax Board’s Interagency Intercept Collections Program. (C) Initiates driver’s license suspension or hold actions when appropriate for a failure to appear in court. (D) Contracts with one or more private debt collectors to collect delinquent debt. (E) Sends monthly bills or account statements to all delinquent debtors. (F) Contracts with local, regional, state, or national skip tracing or locator resources or services to locate delinquent debtors. (G) Coordinates with the probation department to locate debtors who may be on formal or informal probation. (H) Uses Employment Development Department employment and wage information to collect delinquent debt. (I) Establishes wage and bank account garnishments where appropriate. (J) Places liens on real property owned by delinquent debtors when appropriate. (K) Uses an automated dialer or automatic call distribution system to manage telephone calls. |
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Arkansas | Ark. Code Ann. § 5-4-204 | Collection After Default |
(a) When a defendant sentenced to pay a fine or costs defaults in the payment of the fine or costs or of any installment, the fine or costs may be collected by any means authorized for the enforcement of a money judgment in a civil action. (b) A judgment that the defendant pay a fine or costs constitutes a lien on the real property and personal property of the defendant in the same manner and to the same extent as a money judgment in a civil action.
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Arkansas | Ark. Code Ann. § 16-13-709(a)(1)(A)(iii) | Responsibility for Collection |
The sheriff shall remain responsible for collecting bail or money deposited in lieu of bail on behalf of defendants discharged from incarceration pursuant to law in circuit court. |
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Arkansas | Ark. Code Ann. § 16-13-709(a)(2)(B) | Responsibility for Collection |
The chief of police of the town or city in which a district court is located shall remain responsible for collecting bail or money deposited in lieu of bail on behalf of defendants discharged from incarceration pursuant to law in district court.
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Florida | Fla. Stat. §775.089(10)(a) | Definitions; General Penalties; Registration of Criminals: Restitution |
Any default in payment of restitution may be collected by any means authorized by law for enforcement of a judgment. |
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Illinois | 730 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/5-9-3(e) | Fines: Default |
A default in the payment of a fine, fee, cost, order of restitution, judgment of bond forfeiture, judgment order of forfeiture, or any installment thereof may be collected by any and all means authorized for the collection of money judgments
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Illinois | 730 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/5-9-3(e) | Fines: Default |
The State's Attorney of the county in which the fine, fee, cost, order of restitution, judgment of bond forfeiture, or judgment order of forfeiture was imposed may retain attorneys and private collection agents for the purpose of collecting any default in payment of any fine, fee, cost, order of restitution, judgment of bond forfeiture, judgment order of forfeiture, or installment thereof.
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Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. § 42-8-31 | Collection and Disbursement of Funds by Officers; Record-Keeping; Bank Accounts |
No officer shall collect or disburse any funds whatsoever, except by written order of the court; and it shall be the duty of the officer to transmit a copy of such order to DCS not later than 15 days after it has been issued by the court. Every officer who collects or disburses any funds whatsoever shall faithfully keep the records of accounts as are required by DCS, which records shall be subject to inspection by DCS at any time. In every instance when a bank account is required, it shall be kept in the name of the Department of Community Supervision.
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Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 4 §20 | Provide for collection of overdue fines and fees from money collected |
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court shall plan and implement arrangements for the collection of overdue fines and fees due the state courts, the costs of which may be paid from money collected. These arrangements may include but are not limited to: Employing special project clerks, assistants and other staff; contracting with state agencies; contracting for special or private debt collection services; purchasing necessary equipment; and compensating state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies for services provided.
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Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. § 15-9-60(a) | Fees |
The judges or clerks of the probate courts of this state shall be entitled to charge and collect the sums enumerated in this Code section. |
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Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. § 15-21-113 | Assessment and Collection of Penalty; Payment to Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority; Quarterly Reports and Accounting |
The sums provided for in Code Section 15-21-112 shall be assessed and collected by the court officer charged with the duty of collecting moneys arising from fines and shall be paid over by the last day of the following month to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority for remittance to the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Board, to be deposited into the Georgia Crime Victims Emergency Fund. The authority shall, on a quarterly basis, make a report and accounting of all funds collected pursuant to this article and shall submit such report and accounting to the Office of Planning and Budget, the House Budget and Research Office, and the Senate Budget and Evaluation Office no later than 60 days after the last day of the preceding quarter.
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Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. § 15-21-74 | Assessment and Collection of Penalties; Transfer of Payments to Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority; Quarterly Accounting |
The sums provided for under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section 15-21-73 shall be assessed and collected by the court officer charged with the duty of collecting moneys arising from fines and shall be paid over to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority by the last day of the month there following, to be deposited by the authority into the general treasury. The sums provided for under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 15-21-73 shall be assessed and collected by the court officer charged with the duty of collecting moneys arising from forfeited bonds and shall be paid over to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority by the last day of the month there following for remittance to the Office of the State Treasurer; provided, however, that if the local governing authority has an approved procedure to verify the applicant's income as set forth in Code Section 17-12-80, the court officer shall remit 50 percent of such funds to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, and the remaining 50 percent shall be remitted to the local governing authority and reported to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority. The authority shall, on a quarterly basis, make a report and accounting of all funds collected and disbursed pursuant to this article and shall submit such report and accounting to the Office of Planning and Budget, the House Budget and Research Office, and the Senate Budget and Evaluation Office no later than 60 days after the last day of the preceding quarter.
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Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. § 15-21-150 | Collection of Fines; Disposition of Moneys Collected |
The sums provided for in Code Section 15-21-149 shall be assessed and collected by the clerk or court officer charged with the duty of collecting moneys arising from fines and shall be paid over by the last day of the following month to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority for remittance to the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission created in Code Section 15-21-143, to be deposited into the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund.
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Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. § 15-21-101(a) | Collection of Fines and Authorized Expenditures of Funds from County Drug Abuse Treatment and Education Fund |
The sums provided for in Code Section 15-21-100 shall be collected by the clerk or court officer charged with the duty of collecting moneys arising from fines and forfeited bonds and shall be paid over to the governing authority of the county in which the court is located upon receipt of the fine and assessment if paid in full at the time of sentencing or upon receipt of the final payment if the fine is paid in installments. Those sums paid over to the governing authority shall be deposited thereby into a special account to be known as the "County Drug Abuse Treatment and Education Fund."
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Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. § 15-21-94(a) | Assessment and Collection of Sums; Deposit Into County Jail Fund; Failure to Remit Sums |
The sums provided for in Code Section 15-21-93 shall be assessed and collected by the clerk or court officer charged with the duty of collecting moneys arising from fines and forfeited bonds and shall be paid over to the governing authority of the county in which the court is located or, in the case of a municipality which has contracted for jail services, to the governing authority of the county with which the municipality has contracted by the tenth day of the month following the month in which such sums are collected. Such sums paid over to the governing authority shall be deposited by the governing authority into a special account to be known as the "county jail fund."
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Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 280, § 14 | Commitment of Debtor — Payments. |
A person committed to a jail or house of correction in default of payment of a fine may pay it to the keeper of the jail or superintendent of the house of correction, and the warrant for his commitment shall designate the town where the offence for which the fine was imposed was committed and the uses to which such fine is payable by the officer receiving it.
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