Backlog FARE

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

In December 2002, the Arizona Administrative Office of the Court (AOC) issued Administrative Order 2002-113 in response, in part, to the need for improved compliance with the court-ordered financial obligations due to the Justice Courts. A result of this order is the statewide program called “Fines/Fees and Restitution Enforcement” (FARE). The FARE project, specifically the initial “Backlog FARE” application, tackled the need for better compliance to financial judicial orders by putting in place proactive collection and payment modules within an automated system in attempt to collect more fines. The project incorporates a system of getting cases into and out of FARE when certain circumstances are found to exist. The implementation of Backlog FARE established an online payment portal that provides an easier mechanism for individuals to pay monies owed. Further, the Backlog FARE system includes a Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) notification component that results in the suspension of the driver’s license for those who have reached a specific level of delinquency in paying monies owed. The Backlog FARE project entails the transmission of electronic case/financial data between the AOC, MVD, and state courts. The data is processed by each agency and the system keeps various disparate database records synchronized as transactions occur. This sharing of data is one of the key factors of success for this project. Prior to Backlog FARE’s implementation, the Justice Courts averaged approximately $300,000 per month in collections. Since the implementation of FARE, the Justice Courts are realizing an average of $500,000 to $600,000 per month.