Muscatine County Attorney Alan R. Ostergren announced today the results of his office's fine collection program for FY2013 (July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013).
The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors authorized the creation of a fine collection position with the office. This program started in July, 2012. Iowa law provides that the County Attorney may seek to collect court debt (fines, court costs, restitution, jail fees, etc.) when the debt becomes delinquent. The county receives a portion of the funds collected.
As of the end of FY2013 the Muscatine County Attorney's Office collected a total of $ 371,803 in delinquent court debt. The county general fund and the County Attorney's Office received a total of $112,108 from these funds. The fine collection program cost Muscatine County $ 43,161 to operate for that time period.
"I am very happy at the results of this program," said Ostergren. "This program is good for crime victims, taxpayers, and society in general. It is important for criminal defendants to pay their debts. It is vital to rehabilitation and, ultimately, justice," he added. "I would like to thank the Board of Supervisors for their support of this program," Ostergren continued.
