SUNBURY, Pa. — One Pennsylvania county’s latest collection effort — publicly shaming people who owe money — has accounted for a $40,000 windfall in less than a week.

The plan to out the more than 700 individuals who owe money in fines and court costs by placing their mug shots on on social media and on two Northumberland County billboards has met more success than controversy. 

Last week, individuals whose photos were posted on Facebook began to arrive at the county’s probation department to pay fines.

The cost collection team will begin posting the photos on billboards June 1 with the hope that they will aid in the recovery of more than $20 million the county is owed. 

Though more than 30 sheriffs departments and 100 police departments in the state use Facebook to make public announcements, Northumberland is only one of two in Pennsylvania that uses billboards.

Northumberland has more than 600 open warrants for court costs plus an additional 100 for domestic and criminal warrants, according to Prothonotary Justin Dunkelberger. The county has 382 offenders with payment agreements totaling $2.6 million, he said.