NCJ Number
100942
Date Published
1985
Length
431 pages
Annotation
This study examines current procedures for enforcing fines in New Zealand's district courts and recommends ways to improve fine enforcement.
Abstract
Enforcement actions and fine recovery rates were examined for a random sample of 3,036 fines imposed in district courts during 1981 and 1982. The study also analyzed responses to a questionnaire on fine enforcement sent to each district court registrar. Interviews were conducted with staff who enforce fines and offenders who received them. Other findings pertain to overseas fine enforcement systems and the cost of fine enforcement in New Zealand compared to the revenue generated by fines. Overall, fines are apparently an effective and useful disposition, since they are successfully implemented in the majority of cases. Difficulties in the present system, however, derive from the volume of fines processed, particularly in large metropolitan courts. Cases coming into the fine enforcement system could be reduced by using ''boots' to obtain parking fines, treating unpaid traffic tickets as civil debts, or by attaching traffic fines to vehicle registration fees. Fine defaults could be reduced by determining an offender's means before imposing a fine. The existing enforcement system could be simplified and streamlined by reducing the number and range of decision points in the fine enforcement procedure. Appendixes contain the questionnaire, interview schedule, and other methodological materials. Tabular data and 54 references.