Seneca County Probation Department – Restitution Payments (S9-20-7)

Issued Date
December 14, 2021

[read complete report - pdf]

Audit Objective

Determine whether the Seneca County (County) Probation Department (Department) officials enforced restitution orders, notified the court when a probationer violated the court order and disbursed victim restitution payments promptly and appropriately.

Key Findings

Department officials did not always properly enforce restitution orders or notify the court when a probationer violated the court order. As a result, some victims may never receive the payments to which they are entitled.

  • Officials did not establish adequate policies and procedures to enforce and monitor restitution obligations.
  • Nine of the 13 restitution orders reviewed had uncollected payments totaling $63,805.
  • Restitution payments totaling $1,406 were not paid to 11 victims and another $8,147 in undisbursed restitution collected in 2012 or before could have been paid to victims but was not.

In addition, officials did not maintain a complete list of victims with unsatisfied restitution orders, make undisbursed restitution payments or maintain sufficient undisbursed restitution records.

Key Recommendations

  • Establish adequate policies and procedures for enforcing and monitoring restitution obligations.
  • Provide meaningful oversight.
  • Enforce and monitor restitution according to court orders and Department policies and procedures.

County officials agreed with our recommendations and indicated they will take corrective action.