Juror Cash Payment Program

About the Program

Category: Financial Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

With the world in the midst of unprecedented technological advancement, never before have we faced the rapid changes experienced over the last several years. Email, texting, social media, cell phones, and the Internet all compete for our time and attention; multi-tasking and the expectation of immediate problem solving have become the norm, not the exception. Meanwhile, citizens expect local agencies, state offices, and the federal government to ‘do more with less,’ and they want their expectations met in half the time. Processes must be more effective than ever, and we must all be reevaluating how work gets done. In March 2014, through an ongoing effort to adapt to our changing environment, improve processes, and increase customer satisfaction, the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller recognized the need to change how jurors received compensation for their services. The existing method required jurors to request compensation during the check-in process, which was then sent to our Finance Department to issue and mail checks at a later date. This resulted in jurors waiting up to 20 days after their service to receive a check in the mail for the compensation they requested. To provide efficiency, enhance the juror experience, and improve the compensation process for the jurors of Pasco County, the Clerk & Comptroller implemented Juror Cash Payments on May 5, 2014. The Juror Cash Payment Program was designed to provide cash compensation to eligible jurors on the day of their service. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity for eligible jurors to donate their jury service compensation to the guardian ad litem program or a specified domestic violence shelter. Jurors are able to receive instant gratification on the day of their service for the benefits to which they are entitled.