Beginning August 1, those that have not paid their court ordered fines, costs and restitution will be receiving a little reminder in the mail to pay up or face stiffer penalties.

District Attorney Ed Greene announced yesterday that his office and the Circuit Clerk’s office have joined together in an effort to recover delinquent court ordered money owed to the Restitution Recovery Division in Dallas County. His office will also work with the circuit clerks in the other four counties in the Fourth Judicial Circuit to recover outstanding funds.

According to officials at the Restitution Recovery and Circuit Clerk’s office, the delinquent fees owed to Dallas County Circuit Court were estimated to be “several millions of dollars two years ago.” Officials could not give an exact figure of the amount owed as of now.

Dallas County Circuit Clerk Cheryl Strong and her office are currently compiling a list of all individuals who owe outstanding court fines and restitution in district, traffic, and circuit court.

Kristi Millner, special services coordinator for the Worthless Check Unit and Restitution Recovery, a division of the District Attorney’s office, said she and Greene have been meeting with circuit clerks in Dallas, Wilcox, Perry and Hale counties — asking them compile the data and get an exact figure of the moneys owed.

“We should have those figures soon. We have done this in the past with just the Circuit Court and the recovery effort has been very successful. This time, we will recovery moneys owed to circuit, district and traffic court,” Millner said. “I think it’s going to be success. We are going to work with those who can’t afford to pay all of their fines at once.”

Millner and Kayri Montz, assistant coordinator for the Special Services Division will be in charge of sending the letters out August 1, reminding people of their delinquent court ordered fines.

“This is a joint effort to do enforcement and collection of court ordered moneys in the form of fines, court costs, designated fees, and restitution to victims. Special Services Division will send letters to individuals who are more than 90 days delinquent in their court ordered moneys,” Green explained.

If an individual does not respond to the letter by paying the amount owed or making payment arrangements, they will get a second letter from the court system, notifying them they are delinquent in their payments. If the person does not respond to the second letter, they will get a letter from the District Attorney’s office, informing them that they must contact the DA’s Restitution Recovery Unit and pay an additional 30 percent to their delinquent court costs or restitution.

Greene said a law passed last year allows the court system to charge an additional 30 percent to outstanding court ordered fines and costs.

He said if all other attempts fail to recover outstanding moneys, a person will be ordered to appear in a hearing on the matter, which could result in jail, additional fines or probation revocation.

Last year, the District Attorney’s office collected $15,000 in court ordered moneys. There is still a great deal of money that has not been paid to the court system, Greene acknowledged.

“The effort is being made during a funding crisis in the state court system where several millions of dollars are outstanding…We’re taking a real active approach to the recovery restitution. We hope to create a difference in the understanding that people in the judicial system must show responsibility for their court ordered fines, costs and restitution.”