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County won't let cons get out of jail free Unpaid bills are targeted under a new deal with state revenue department By JILL BRISKEY They may have paid their debt to society, but ex-convicts who still owe money to Jackson County for their parole or probation must now pay up or deal with a collection agency. The Jackson County Board of Commissioners has for the first time entered into a contract with the Oregon Department of Revenue in hopes of collecting fees through tax refunds. The county has used the Department of Revenue on a case-by-case basis since 1997, and the department has had considerable success collecting on unpaid bills from those who seldom work, said Community Justice Director Bob Grindstaff. "People who are offenders aren't always employed or employable," Grindstaff said. "The Oregon Department of Revenue has some clout in terms of their ability to deal with tax refunds." The department is based in Salem and is contracted to collect debt for 150 circuit and district courts, colleges, state agencies and other governmental organizations. Grindstaff said the county is owed about $100,000 from former Community Justice clients. At any given time, roughly 1,500 people in Jackson County are serving a sentence of parole or probation. Grindstaff said violators serving supervised probation are charged $35 a month. That fee, he added, pays for a probation or parole officer, paperwork and other costs incurred during the sentence. A probation officer works with each client to ensure a person pays that debt if possible, Grindstaff said. Department of Revenue Program Manager Bruce Laudon said when Jackson County turns over an account, state personnel contact the individual and attempt to collect the amount due. If that's not possible, Laudon said, a payment plan based on a person's income is imposed. If a person refuses to cooperate, Laudon said the state will garnish 25 percent of his or her disposable income. It also can claim Oregon income tax refunds and "kicker" tax refund checks.The state is mailing kicker checks to Oregonians this month. "We give people an opportunity. We're not the big, bad wolf out there," Laudon said. "If they refuse to (cooperate), then we have a pretty big hammer." Between July 1999 and July 2001, the Department of Revenue collected more than $53.5 million in unpaid debts statewide. It will charge the county 12 percent for collection services. "By statue, we cannot make a profit. All we're allowed to do is cover our administrative expenses," Laudon said. The county has used the state for collections for several years. In 2000, Grindstaff said, the state managed to bring in $27,158.50 from former clients. The two-year contract expires on June 30, 2003. Payment options exist for residents who owe the county for parole or probation but make little money. Laudon said the first $170 of a person's disposable income on each check is exempt from being garnished. He said there are exemptions for various hardships as well. "These are not people who are making really big income," he said. "We look at what their income is and their ability to make payment." Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.