Allegheny County Offering Penalty-Free Period for Criminal Payments
Defendants can avoid commission on overdue criminal fines, fees and restitutions before Dec. 30, 2011.
The Allegheny County Department of Court Records is reminding the public that it is offering a penalty-free period through Dec. 30, 2011 to encourage defendants to pay criminal fines, fees and restitutions that were referred to collection agencies prior to 2005 by the former Clerk of Courts. To enable the penalty-free period, the Department of Court Records has recalled all Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas criminal cases from outside collection agencies. In the past, criminal cases with a balance owed were referred to outside companies if internal collection methods failed. Approximately 59,100 cases have been recalled that still have a balance due as of July 1, 2011. By law, collection agencies may add up to a 25 percent commission …
