Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§3611 Payment of a fine or restitution
Title 18 › Part PART II— - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE › Chapter CHAPTER 229— - POSTSENTENCE ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER B— - FINES › § 3611
Summary
People ordered to pay a fine, assessment, or restitution must pay it with interest/penalties as Administrative Office Director directs, to the clerk or under 28 U.S.C. 604(a)(18).
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §3611
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A person who is sentenced to pay a fine, assessment, or restitution, shall pay the fine, assessment, or restitution (including any interest or penalty), as specified by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Such Director may specify that such payment be made to the clerk of the court or in the manner provided for under section 604(a)(18) of title 28, United States Code.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
For a prior section 3611, applicable to offenses committed prior to Nov. 1, 1987, see note set out preceding section 3601 of this title.
Amendments
1996—Pub. L. 104–132 substituted “Payment of a fine or restitution” for “Payment of a fine” in section catchline and “, assessment, or restitution, shall pay the fine, assessment, or restitution” for “or assessment shall pay the fine or assessment” in text. 1990—Pub. L. 101–647 substituted “604(a)(18)” for “604(a)(17)”. 1987—Pub. L. 100–185 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “A person who has been sentenced to pay a fine pursuant to the provisions of subchapter C of chapter 227 shall pay the fine immediately, or by the time and method specified by the sentencing court, to the clerk of the court. The clerk shall forward the payment to the United States Treasury.”
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–132 to be effective, to extent constitutionally permissible, for sentencing proceedings in cases in which defendant is convicted on or after Apr. 24, 1996, see section 211 of Pub. L. 104–132, set out as a note under section 2248 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1987 Amendment Pub. L. 100–185, § 10(b), Dec. 11, 1987, 101 Stat. 1283, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to any fine imposed after
October 31, 1988. Such amendment shall also apply with respect to any fine imposed on or before
October 31, 1988, if the fine remains uncollected as of
February 1, 1989, unless the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts determines further delay is necessary. If the Director so determines, the amendment made by this section shall apply with respect to any such fine imposed on or before
October 31, 1988, if the fine remains uncollected as of
May 1, 1989.”
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. Receipt of Fines—Interim Provisions Pub. L. 100–185, § 9, Dec. 11, 1987, 101 Stat. 1282, provided that: “(a)
November 1, 1987, to
April 30, 1988.—Notwithstanding section 3611 of title 18, United States Code, a person who, during the period beginning on
November 1, 1987, and ending on
April 30, 1988, is sentenced to pay a fine or assessment shall pay the fine or assessment (including any interest or penalty) to the clerk of the court, with respect to an offense committed on or before
December 31, 1984, and to the Attorney General, with respect to an offense committed after
December 31, 1984. “(b)
May 1, 1988, to
October 31, 1988.—(1) Notwithstanding section 3611 of title 18, United States Code, a person who during the period beginning on
May 1, 1988, and ending on
October 31, 1988, is sentenced to pay a fine or assessment shall pay the fine or assessment in accordance with this subsection. “(2) In a case initiated by citation or violation notice, such person shall pay the fine or assessment (including any interest or penalty), as specified by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Such Director may specify that such payment be made to the clerk of the court or in the manner provided for under section 604(a)(17) of title 28, United States Code. “(3) In any other case, such person shall pay the fine or assessment (including any interest or penalty) to the clerk of the court, with respect to an offense committed on or before
December 31, 1984, and to the Attorney General, with respect to an offense committed after
December 31, 1984.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 3611
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73