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Kaufman County hears annual JP collections report, approves county collections Q1 analysis
Summary
Private contractor Purdy Brandon reported millions collected on Justice of the Peace delinquent cases; the county collections department reported $393,126.78 in Q1 2025 and the commissioners approved the department's first-quarter analysis.
Kaufman County commissioners on Tuesday heard an annual report from the county's collections contractor, Purdy Brandon Law Firm, and approved a first-quarter collections analysis from the county's collections department.
The Purdy Brandon team, represented by partner Doug Burnside, told the court the firm has received more than $20 million in accounts turned over from the four Justice of the Peace courts in Kaufman County and has collected more than $7 million during the life of the contract. Burnside said the firm has mailed more than 400,000 letters, updated about 41,000 addresses and made more than 100,000 phone calls on the county's behalf. The firm also reported beginning a texting and emailing initiative that generated a surge of inbound calls and inquiries.
The county's collections department, which operates under the district attorney's office, presented its first-quarter 2025 totals. Courtney Gladney said the office collected $393,126.78 in Q1 2025, an increase of 12.83% compared with the previous quarter and 4.41% compared with the same quarter in 2024. Commissioners voted to approve the department's analysis.
Burnside described a category called "resolved," explaining that some accounts are closed without payment because of fine reductions, dismissals, jail credits, community service, death or because cases were sent in error and recalled by the court. He said Purdy Brandon participated in a recent warrant-resolution effort that included a special mailer and newspaper ads to notify defendants of options other than warrant execution.
Courtney Gladney described her four-person team and credited consistent staffing for recent collection gains. She told commissioners the department collects criminal court fees, fines and victim restitution.
No formal changes to collection contracts were proposed at the meeting. Commissioners expressed appreciation for the work done by both the contractor and the county collections staff.
