In the News
Important Information Regarding the Clerk's Office
- June 2024 Notice of extended operating hours in Elyria branch office (PDF)
- 2023 Annual Report (PDF)
- TOM ORLANDO’S OFFICE COLLECTS OVER $400,000 IN RESTITUTION AND COURT COSTS
Lorain County Clerk of Court Tom Orlando is pleased to announce that his team has to date collected over $400,000 from the office’s inmate collections program. Shortly after taking office in 2015, Orlando searched for ways to increase collections of delinquent restitution, court costs, fines and fee from convicted criminals. Explains Orlando: “By implementing procedures established by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC), incarcerated inmates are subject to garnishments of outstanding court-ordered financial obligations through their commissary accounts. Procedural safeguards in place protect an inmate’s account from garnishment if their commissary funds are under the $25.00 ODRC minimum threshold.” In an effort to provide additional flexibility, Orlando also created an inmate commissary collections avoidance plan. This plan allows families or loved ones of inmates to assume the payments for restitution, fines, fees, and court costs on the inmate’s behalf, thereby relieving the inmate’s commissary account from garnishment.
“Since this program was the first of its kind in Lorain County, many were skeptical of its success but that didn’t deter us from doing what we felt was part of our duty,” notes Orlando. Almost immediately after launching the program, Orlando’s office received expressions of gratitude from victims who began receiving restitution, some after many years with no payments. Says Orlando: “I feel that collecting over $400,000 in outstanding restitution, court costs, fees, and fines is a validation of my office’s efforts. We will continue to do so for the benefit of Lorain County taxpayers and victims of crime.” ISSUED 3/13/2023