US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

18 U.S.C. § 3611

Payment of a fine or restitution

section 604(a)(18) of title 28A 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 , United States Code.

Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 212(a)(2)98 Stat. 2004Pub. L. 100–185, § 10(a)101 Stat. 1283Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXV, § 3591104 Stat. 4931Pub. L. 104–132, title II, § 207(c)(1)110 Stat. 1237(Added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

section 3601 of this titleFor a prior section 3611, applicable to offenses committed prior to , see note set out preceding .

Amendments

Pub. L. 104–1321996— 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.

Pub. L. 101–6471990— substituted “604(a)(18)” for “604(a)(17)”.

Pub. L. 100–1851987— 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 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–132section 211 of Pub. L. 104–132section 2248 of this titleAmendment by to be effective, to extent constitutionally permissible, for sentencing proceedings in cases in which defendant is convicted on or after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–185, § 10(b)101 Stat. 1283

“The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to any fine imposed after . Such amendment shall also apply with respect to any fine imposed on or before , if the fine remains uncollected as of , 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 , if the fine remains uncollected as of .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date

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

Receipt of Fines—Interim Provisions

Pub. L. 100–185, § 9101 Stat. 1282

“(a)

Novemberto April 1, 1987, 30, 1988.—

section 3611 of title 18Notwithstanding , United States Code, a person who, during the period beginning on , and ending on , 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 , and to the Attorney General, with respect to an offense committed after .
“(b)

Mayto October 1, 1988, 31, 1988.—

(1)
section 3611 of title 18 Notwithstanding , United States Code, a person who during the period beginning on , and ending on , is sentenced to pay a fine or assessment shall pay the fine or assessment in accordance with this subsection.
“(2)
section 604(a)(17) of title 28 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 , 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 , and to the Attorney General, with respect to an offense committed after .”
, , , provided that: