Remission—Uncollectible Fines

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DOJ Justice Manual › Title 9: Criminal › 9-143.000 - Collection Of Criminal Monetary Impositions › Justice Manual § 9-143.510

This text was captured on Aug 14, 2026. It is a snapshot, not a live feed, so check the official code before relying on it.

Text

Upon the petition of the government showing that reasonable efforts to collect a fine are not likely to be effective, the court may remit all or part of the unpaid portion of the fine. 18 U.S.C. § 3573. Each United States Attorney should develop a written district policy for the remission of uncollectible fines to guide the Financial Litigation/Asset Recovery Unit in preparing petitions for remission. Where there is a reasonable belief that a fine will never be collected, a petition for remission of all or part of the fine is preferable to placing the debt in suspense. Restitution cannot be remitted under 18 USC § 3573.

[added May 2018]

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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