Delaware County commissioners approved a contract authorizing Atlas Collections, Inc., to pursue unpaid probation user fees on behalf of the county’s probation department.
Chief Probation Officer Jeff Hansard said the department has used outside vendors in prior years and estimated current recoveries at roughly $2,500–$3,000 per year; the Atlas proposal would pay the vendor a commission (noted in the meeting as industry standard) of up to 30% of recovered amounts. Hansard said the department hopes Atlas will increase collection effectiveness compared with past vendors.
County counsel and court staff discussed whether probation orders should include language making defendants responsible for collection fees and costs if accounts are referred to collections. Judge approval would be required to add such language to the standard probation agreement; county staff offered to present sample language to judges and noted several other counties have collection‑fee clauses in their probation documents.
Why it matters: Recovering outstanding user fees helps the probation department recoup costs and reduces net subsidy from county funds; adding contract‑fee language to probation orders would shift responsibility for collection costs to individuals when judges approve that change.
Discussion vs. decision: Commissioners approved the contract. County counsel and probation staff agreed to pursue sample language for judges to consider adding to future probation agreements so that probationers would be responsible for collection fees if referrals are necessary. No immediate change to existing orders occurred without judge approval.
Key numbers and parties: proposed vendor Atlas Collections, Inc.; vendor commission noted at 30% of amounts collected; estimated current annual collectible amounts $2,500–$3,000 (department estimate).