Title 18Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§3573 Petition of the Government for modification or remission

Title 18 › Part PART II— - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE › Chapter CHAPTER 227— - SENTENCES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER C— - FINES › § 3573

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If the government asks and shows that reasonable tries to collect a fine or special assessment probably won't work, the court may, if it thinks that is fair, cancel all or part of what’s owed (including interest and penalties), postpone payment to a set date, or allow or lengthen installment payments.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §3573

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Upon petition of the Government showing that reasonable efforts to collect a fine or assessment are not likely to be effective, the court may, in the interest of justice—
(1)remit all or part of the unpaid portion of the fine or special assessment, including interest and penalties;
(2)defer payment of the fine or special assessment to a date certain or pursuant to an installment schedule; or
(3)extend a date certain or an installment schedule previously ordered.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

For a prior section 3573, applicable to offenses committed prior to Nov. 1, 1987, see note set out preceding section 3551 of this title.

Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–690 inserted at end “This section shall apply to all fines and assessments irrespective of the date of imposition.” 1987—Pub. L. 100–185 substituted “Petition of the Government for modification or remission” for “Modification or remission of fine” in section catchline and amended text generally, revising and restating as a single paragraph with three numbered clauses provisions formerly contained in subsecs. (a) and (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Nov. 1, 1987, and applicable only to offenses committed after the taking effect of this section, see section 235(a)(1) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as a note under section 3551 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 3573

Title 18Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73