Defendants in Hamilton County owe more than $234 million in unpaid fines to the criminal court and general sessions. Those funds fund about 50 different agencies and municipalities, according to account balances provided by Criminal Court Clerk Vince Dean.
“We’re not trying to get rich,” Dean said. “We just want to hold people accountable. The bottom line is, if a judge tells you to pay, you have to pay.”
The Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office is launching a new effort to collect old fines by sending past-due bills to a Houston-based law firm for collection.
A judge can order a defendant in a criminal case to pay a fine for a variety of reasons, from court costs to restitution to victims.
According to account balances, the criminal court is owed more than $68 million and the general court is owed about $166 million.
(READ MORE: Hamilton County Clerk of Court to testify on jury selection after allegations jury was predominantly white and unrepresentative)
The courts keep little of the fees collected, Dean said. Fines from Hamilton County courts support dozens of needed services, people and places, including the city of Collegedale, Chattanooga Airport security, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and state and county taxes.
“We have to make it rain for everyone else,” he said.
All unpaid fines will be required to pay off their debts, regardless of age, Dean said.
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / Vince Dean, criminal court clerk, speaks during an event on Jan. 27 at the Construction Career Center in Chattanooga. Hamilton County criminal and general sessions courts are owed approximately $234 million in unpaid fees.(SUBSCRIBE: Get breaking Chattanooga area news, sports and entertainment delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free newsletters at timesfreepress.com/newsletters.)
In one case, a man had a 40-year-old unpaid fine, Dean said. The fines don’t disappear over time.
“We are not dealing with people who are good at following instructions,” he said.
Outstanding fines owed to Hamilton County courts are considered delinquent after six months, but the clerk of court’s office gives defendants an additional six months before turning the account over to a collection agency, Dean said.
By sending the invoice to the agency, the defendant is also obliged to pay the associated fees.
The debt collection agency’s fee is about 20 percent, about 24 percent less than the statutory limit, Dean said.
(READ MORE: Hamilton County criminal defense attorneys criticize bail practices)
Even after an account has been handed over to an independent debt collection agency, it is still possible to settle claims through the criminal court office.
Anyone who receives a letter about uncollected court fines and believes there is an error can contact the Payment Center at 423-209-6875.
Both the debt collection agency and the debt processing office work with those affected to establish payment plans.
A payment plan of just $25 a month will “free you from them,” Dean said.
Letters sent by mail will include detailed instructions on how to make the payment. Defendants can also visit hamiltontn.gov or download the Hamilton County Judicial Services application.
Contact Sofia Saric at [email protected] or 423-757-6476.
