Created by the Missouri Judiciary in 1997 to help centralize enforcement of court-imposed fees associated with traffic, conservation and watercraft violations, the FCC became operational in 1999 and currently serves 65 of the state's 114 counties. That number is expected to grow as process improvements are realized.
ACS and the Office of State Court Administrator will form a public-private partnership structured as a pay-for-performance contract with no up-front investment by the state. Unlike typical back-end collection companies that focus primarily on delinquent accounts, ACS will manage all phases and aspects of violations enforcement through the FCC, providing data entry, imaging, telephone and Web-based payment services, payment collection and processing, and integration with Missouri's statewide court case management system.
"We are pleased to form this public-private partnership that will enable us to improve the already successful operations of the FCC," said Michael L. Buenger, State Courts administrator. "We believe the addition of ACS' best practices and technology enhancements will enable the FCC to provide more convenient service options to the public, promote increased compliance with monetary sanctions imposed by courts, and better serve more Missouri counties as they opt into the program."
The company's goal is to assist the Missouri state court system by significantly enhancing the rate of compliance with court-ordered fees and fines, and to improve overall service levels through systemic technology and process improvements. The company also will facilitate communication activities to promote the services of the FCC to nonparticipating courts and to educate the public about the purpose and value of the program.
