Arizona courts tap ACS for collections services

Affiliated Computer Services Inc. won a five-year contract from the Arizona Supreme Court and Arizona Administrative Office of the Courts to provide compliance and collections services, the company announced today. The contract value was not disclosed.

Under the contract, ACS of Dallas will provide compliance and collections services for the state's 178 general jurisdiction, limited jurisdiction and municipal courts.

The company also will administer the state's newly established Fines, Fees and Restitution Enforcement program, or FARE, which seeks to enforce compliance with court fines, fees and restitution and improve services to constituents through convenient payment options.

The overall goal of the FARE program is to enhance court services for Arizona residents and visitors, while increasing revenue for Arizona governments, the company said. The program also provides greater consistency of court-ordered penalties and improves efficiencies within court operations.

The contract, which is a so-called public-private partnership, requires no developmental or administrative costs to the courts, said Joan Harphant, court administrator for the Tucson City Court.

"ACS funding model represents a true partnership, with no up-front cost to the courts, so ACS' success is tied to the success of the Arizona FARE program," she said.

The contract is expected to generate millions of dollars in additional revenue for the state, the company said.

ACS is a provider of business process and information technology outsourcing services to commercial and government clients. The company has more than 40,000 employees and annual revenue of $3.7 billion in 2003.