$1 Million Recovered In Bucks County Victims Restitution Program

WARMINSTER TOWNSHIP, PA —A Bucks County program has recovered more than $1 million in uncollected court fees and restitution for crime victims.

As the Bucks County Clerk of Courts, Brian Munroe established a program where he reached out to people who owed court debts and victims restitution, money that went uncollected for 30 years.

It was one of the success stories he pitched when running for —and eventually winning —a seat as the state representative in the 144th Legislative District.

The former Warminster Township supervisor presented the Delinquency Recovery Program to the township supervisors in early September before he got caught up in election mode.

Munroe touted that Bucks County was the only one in Pennsylvania with such a program at that time.

During a two-year period, Munroe said 35 hearings were held, 3,003 calls and visits were made, and 8,577 notices were mailed. The response rate was 35 percent, he said. And 2,138 people paid in full.

He completed the years 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2004, and 2005 and was working on the year 1994.

Between July 2020 and June 2021, $398,713 was collected, and $574,367 between July 2021 and June 2022. On July 20, 2022, he said revenue surpassed $1 million.

As of last August, the total revenue was $1,053,985.02. Munroe said the first $500,000 was generated in 393 days with the second $500,000 coming a little faster in 327 days.

Munroe said the program:

• Compassionately helps people fulfill their court-ordered obligations.
• Brings in new and increasing revenue to Bucks County.
• Reminds victims that they weren't abandoned.
• Demonstrates that good governing benefits everyone.

"A lot of money was uncollected for over 30 years," Munroe said during his presentation.

Munroe said he pitched the program to the Bucks County Commissioners. He said he discovered that $230 million had gone uncollected —Munroe said a portion of that is not collectible —and that the money being collected is due to the fact that the county offers to take those who owe money out of the collections system.

Munroe said less than 30 percent of the money collected is returned to the victims.

Munroe told Warminster supervisors that he hoped other counties would establish such a system.