SPRINGDALE — People paying fines at the Springdale District Court should soon find the process easier.
At A Glance
Springdale District Court
The court handled 18,673 cases in 2012 and collected $2.47 million in restitution, fines and court costs.
Source: Springdale District Court
Judge Jeff Harper has started making changes to streamline the payment process, he said.
“Every change we’ve made has been to make us more customer friendly or to add security,” Harper said.
Thousands of people owe money, said Jerry Tedford, bailiff and probation supervisor. The money owed is in the millions.
“We estimated a few years ago there was about $5 million to $6 million owed in fines,” Tedford said. “I’m sure that is a conservative estimate.”
One problem has been computer software. Employees cannot look up on the computer how much a person owes, Tedford said. That has to be done by hand.
“We are looking at the same software used by all the other courts in the county,” Harper said. “That would make everyone’s job easier.”
Those paying fines Wednesday did not want to discuss the process because they had been found guilty of a traffic violation or a misdemeanor. Felony trials go to circuit court.
Starting Friday, the District Court employees will make change for those who are making payments on fines and court costs. Previously, the court required cash payments for the exact amount due.
Many people would go to the city attorney’s office to get change, Harper said. Harper was city attorney for 26 years before becoming judge Jan. 1.
On March 1, the hours of the court office will be extended to 5 p.m. The court has closed at 4 p.m. for several years.
“I think the court should have the same hours as the city offices,” Harper said.
People would go to other offices trying to pay fines after 4 p.m., said Denise Pearce, city clerk.
“We still get phone calls asking why the court is closed,” Pearce said.
A drop box for payments in off hours was installed last week on the door to the court offices, Harper said. Fourteen payments were made through the box in the first week, Harper said.
“We got four over the weekend,” said Betty Lee, court clerk. “That’s money we might not have received otherwise. It’s working very well.”
The court will have a full-time bailiff beginning April 1, Tedford, said. Tedford has served as a plain-clothes bailiff during the time court is in session.
The bailiff will add a uniformed, armed presence to the court, Harper said.
“I’m in court every day, between arraignments, criminal trials, civil trials and small claims court,” Tedford said.
Tedford helps with the court paperwork and also oversees home arrest monitoring. Between five and 17 ankle monitors are installed every Tuesday, he said.
The bailiff will work closely with a jailer, said Kathy O’Kelley, Springdale police chief. Both will work four 10-hour days, she said.
The extra time will allow the bailiff to pick up prisoners kept at the Benton or Washington county jails, O’Kelley said.
“We made 3,300 trips to county jails last year,” O’Kelley said. “That is a lot of gas, time and money.”
Police officials plan to add dividers to a van it owns to segregate prisoners. Federal regulations require those charged with misdemeanors and felonies, and men and women to be separated by sight and sound, O’Kelley said.
The jailer will coordinate paperwork between the jail and the court, O’Kelley said.