Criminal

Bucks County Adult Probation and Parole

Financial Obligations

Restitution
Restitution Payments to Adult Probation
Collecting Restitution
A Victim's Concern
A Defendant's Concern
Change of Address
Court Costs and Fines
Supervision Fees

Court ordered financial obligations might normally include Restitution, Court Costs, Fines and Supervision Fees. With the Bucks County Court's commitment to victims, restitution will be collected first. After all restitution is paid in full, Court Costs and fines are to be paid in full. Last to be paid are Supervision Fees. The two Departments that collect and distribute the payments work closely together to facilitate these payment priorities.

To restate, the priority order of payment is as follows:
1st: Restitution
2nd: Court Costs and Fines
3rd: Supervision Fees

Restitution
Restitution is the court's attempt to make a victim "whole" by ordering the offender to pay for actual financial losses incurred by the victim because of the offense. The Adult Probation Department collects the restitution ordered in misdemeanor and felony convictions. If the restitution was ordered as a part of an ARD agreement (Advanced Rehabilitative Disposition), the District Attorney's office handles the restitution. If you are a victim and have questions about restitution, call our office. Telephone 215-348-6634 and ask for the Restitution Secretary.

Restitution Payments to Adult Probation
Restitution payments should be mailed directly to: Bucks County Adult Probation Department, 55 East Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901. Make your check or money order out to the "Bucks County Adult Probation Department", and include the defendant's name and social security number.

If you are making a restitution payment for someone who is incarcerated and the payment is a condition for immediate release, then the payment must be made in cash, certified check or money order. You will need to make the payment in person during normal working hours 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Courthouse Office (7th floor). If the payment is made by personal check, there will be a 10 working day delay for the check to clear before a release can be approved.

Collecting Restitution
Many of the defendants owing restitution will have a probation or parole officer (PO). The PO will normally work out a payment plan with the defendant at the first or second appointment. If you are a victim and want information related to your court ordered restitution, you may telephone one of our offices and ask for help in determining what PO you need to talk to. It is essential that you know the name of the defendant, and helpful if you know the Court's Bill Number associated with the case. Although the PO will not be able to share specific information related to the case, they can inform you of the status of your restitution.

A Victim's Concern
Does the defendant have my address?
Your address is considered confidential information and is not given to the defendant for any reason.

A Defendant's Concern
Does the victim have my address?
Your address is considered confidential information and is not given to the defendant for any reason.

Change of Address:
Victims should notify our department of changes of address. Telephone 215-348-6634 with your new address, or mail it to our Courthouse Office at Bucks County Adult Probation Department, 55 East Court Street, Courthouse (7th floor), Doylestown, PA 18901. You may send it attention: Restitution Secretary.

Court Costs and Fines:
As part of your sentence, you will be required to pay the costs of prosecution and fines, if ordered by the court. The amount of costs and fines is different for each case and is based upon numerous factors. The Bucks County Clerk of Courts is responsible for calculating, collecting and disbursing court costs and fines. All payments for court costs and fines should be sent to the Bucks County Clerk of Courts. Their address is 55 East Court Street, Courthouse (4th floor), Doylestown, PA 18901. They accept cash, check, money order and visa. Please include the defendant's name and social security number on all checks or money orders. Remember, restitution must be paid first before any money is applied to court costs and fines.

Supervision Fees:
In August of 1992, in response to legislation passed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Bucks County Court was the last county court in the Commonwealth to initiate the collection of Supervision Fees. The normal fee is $25.00 for each month a client is on probation or parole. This is the smallest amount allowed by the legislation. This fee is added to the defendant's total obligations on the first of each month. The Bucks County Clerk of Courts collects this fee. All payments for supervision fees should be sent to the Bucks County Clerk of Courts. Their address is 55 East Court Street, Courthouse (4th floor), Doylestown, PA 18901. They accept cash, check, money order and visa. Please include the defendant's name and social security number on all checks or money orders. As noted above, it is the last financial obligation to be paid.

Please click here for more information about Supervision Fees.

The county and court presently use supervision fees to help offset the costs of the Adult Probation Department.