1. CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS
Jim Hamlin
Dallas County District Clerk
Mary Cannon, Special Assistant

2. EVER HEAR THIS?
“CRIMINALS DO NOT HAVE ANY MONEY; THEREFORE, THEY CANNOT PAY”
This statement is absolutely NOT TRUE!
After 5 years and $17.46m in collections,
they DO and they CAN!
You have to create the expectation level that costs and fines MUST be paid.

3. Brief Overview of Felony Collections
Divided into Three Systems
System 1: In person interviews straight from Court
System 2: Probationers within six months of completing probation
System 3: Jail billing for State and County Jail Sentences
Staffed by 6 County Employees: 1 Collections Coordinator, 3 Interviewers, 2 Clerical Support.
100% Collection rate is not the goal. Increasing revenue and bringing in new money is the goal.

4. How payments are received
Payment in person to the Cashier
Mailed in to the office
Drop Box at the Courthouse
Approximately 30 to 50 payments are dropped over a weekend period
CREDIT CARDS
In person
INTERNET

5. Drop Box at the Courthouse

6. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS TO ACCEPT CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS
Need a contract with a bank and/or Credit Card vendor
Need a website or a contractor to host a website (for internet payments)

7. AVERAGE MONTHLY COLLECTIONS
Average monthly collections for all payment methods is $425,000
Average monthly CREDIT CARD collections is $39,115
Credit Card collections account for just under 10% of monthly collections

8. AMOUNT COLLECTED VIA CREDIT CARD PER MONTH

9. NUMBER OF CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS MADE PER MONTH

10. AVERAGE CREDIT CARD PAYMENT

11. BENEFITS OF CREDIT CARD ACCEPTANCE
EASE OF PAYMENT
Clients do not have to come downtown to make a payment. Payments can be made from home, the library or anywhere internet access is available.
Able to make payments ON TIME.
Able to make FULL PAYMENT.
VERY FEW CASES OF FRAUD
We have experienced only 2 cases of fraud in over 4,450 transactions.

12. DISADVANTAGES OF CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS
Bank charge to County of between 2-3%
Per transaction charge for Client
Dallas County went from 3% of payment made to $5.00 per internet payment. Clients paying OTC (over the counter) do not have to pay the transaction fee.
Fraud/Credit Card Misuse
In the case fraud is discovered, we notify their Probation Officer of the situation.

13. To view this presentation online, please go to our website located at: