<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>80926</law_id><section_number>19.2-349</section_number><catch_line>Responsibility for collections; clerks to report unsatisfied fines, etc.; duty of attorneys for Commonwealth; duties of Department of Taxation</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-354</reference><reference>19.2-354.1</reference><reference>19.2-392.13</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="21">Recovery of Fines and Penalties</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Collection and Disposition of Fines</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The clerk of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> and district <span class="dictionary">court</span> of every county and city shall submit to the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of his <span class="dictionary">court</span>, the Department of Taxation, the State Compensation Board and the attorney for the Commonwealth of his county or city a monthly report of all fines, costs, forfeitures and penalties which are delinquent more than 90 days, including <span class="dictionary">court</span>-ordered <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> of a sum certain, imposed in his <span class="dictionary">court</span> for a violation of state <span class="dictionary">law</span> or a local <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> which remain unsatisfied, including those which are delinquent in installment payments. The monthly report shall include the social security number or driver&#x2019;s license number of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>, if known, and such other information as the Department of Taxation and the Compensation Board deem appropriate. The Executive Secretary shall make the report required by this subsection on behalf of those clerks who participate in the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span>&#x2019;s automated information system. <a id="paragraph-290093" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-349/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The clerk of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> and district <span class="dictionary">court</span> of every county and city shall submit quarterly to the attorney for the Commonwealth of his county or city and any <span class="dictionary">probation</span> agency that serves such county or city: <a id="paragraph-290094" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-349/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A list of all <span class="dictionary">defendants</span> with an outstanding balance of <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> ordered by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> served by such clerk. Such report shall include the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s name, case number, total amount of <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> ordered, amount of <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> remaining due, and last date of payment; and <a id="paragraph-290095" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-349/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A list of all accounts where more than 90 days have passed since an account was sent to collections and no payments have been made toward fines, costs, forfeitures, penalties, or <span class="dictionary">restitution</span>. For accounts where <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> is owed, such report shall include the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s name, case number, and total amount of <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> and <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> interest due. <a id="paragraph-290096" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-349/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> It shall be the duty of the attorney for the Commonwealth to cause proper proceedings to be instituted for the collection and satisfaction of all fines, costs, forfeitures, penalties and <span class="dictionary">restitution</span>. The attorney for the Commonwealth shall determine whether it would be impractical or uneconomical for such service to be rendered by the office of the attorney for the Commonwealth. If the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> does not enter into an installment payment agreement under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Authority of court to order payment of fine, costs, forfeitures, penalties or restitution in installments or upon other terms and conditions; community work in lieu of payment" href="/19.2-354/">19.2-354</a>, the attorney for the Commonwealth and the clerk may agree to a process by which collection activity may be commenced 90 days after <span class="dictionary">judgment</span>.
			If the attorney for the Commonwealth does not undertake collection, he shall (i) <span class="dictionary">contract</span> with private attorneys or private collection agencies, (ii) enter into an agreement with a local governing body, (iii) enter into an agreement with the county or city treasurer, or (iv) use the services of the Department of Taxation, upon such terms and conditions as may be established by guidelines promulgated by the Office of the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>, the Executive Secretary of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> with the Department of Taxation and the Compensation Board. At least 30 days prior to the execution of a <span class="dictionary">contract</span> pursuant to clause (i), the attorney for the Commonwealth shall consult with the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span>. Such consultation is not required when the attorney for the Commonwealth enters into an agreement pursuant to clause (ii), (iii), or (iv). If the attorney for the Commonwealth undertakes collection, he shall follow the procedures established by the Department of Taxation and the Compensation Board. Such guidelines shall not supersede <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> between attorneys for the Commonwealth and private attorneys and collection agencies when active collection efforts are being undertaken. As part of such <span class="dictionary">contract</span>, private attorneys or collection agencies shall be given access to the social security number of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to assist in the collection effort. Any such private attorney shall be subject to the penalties and provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Identity theft; penalty; restitution; victim assistance" href="/18.2-186.3/">18.2-186.3</a>.
			The fees of any private attorneys or collection agencies shall be paid on a contingency fee basis out of the proceeds of the amounts collected. However, in no event shall such attorney or collection agency receive a fee for amounts collected by the Department of Taxation under the Setoff Debt Collection Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Contingent effective date) Definitions" href="/58.1-520/">58.1-520</a> et seq.). A local treasurer undertaking collection pursuant to an agreement with the attorney for the Commonwealth may collect the administrative fee authorized by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Payment of administrative costs, etc" href="/58.1-3958/">58.1-3958</a>. <a id="paragraph-290097" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-349/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The Department of Taxation and the State Compensation Board shall be responsible for the collection of any <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> which remains unsatisfied or does not meet the conditions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Authority of court to order payment of fine, costs, forfeitures, penalties or restitution in installments or upon other terms and conditions; community work in lieu of payment" href="/19.2-354/">19.2-354</a>. Persons owing such unsatisfied <span class="dictionary">judgments</span> or failing to comply with installment payment agreements under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Authority of court to order payment of fine, costs, forfeitures, penalties or restitution in installments or upon other terms and conditions; community work in lieu of payment" href="/19.2-354/">19.2-354</a> shall be subject to the delinquent tax collection provisions of Title 58.1. The Department of Taxation and the State Compensation Board shall establish procedures to be followed by clerks of <span class="dictionary">courts</span>, attorneys for the Commonwealth, other state agencies and any private attorneys or collection agents and may employ private attorneys or collection agencies, or engage other state agencies to collect the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span>. The Department of Taxation and the Commonwealth shall be entitled to deduct a fee for services from amounts collected for violations of local <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span>.
			The Department of Taxation and the State Compensation Board shall annually report to the Governor and the General Assembly the total of fines, costs, forfeitures and penalties assessed, collected, and unpaid and those which remain unsatisfied or do not meet the conditions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Authority of court to order payment of fine, costs, forfeitures, penalties or restitution in installments or upon other terms and conditions; community work in lieu of payment" href="/19.2-354/">19.2-354</a> by each <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> and district <span class="dictionary">court</span>. The report shall include the procedures established by the Department of Taxation and the State Compensation Board pursuant to this section and a plan for increasing the collection of unpaid fines, costs, forfeitures and penalties. The Auditor of Public Accounts shall annually report to the Governor, the Executive Secretary of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> and the General Assembly as to the adherence of clerks of <span class="dictionary">courts</span>, attorneys for the Commonwealth and other state agencies to the procedures established by the Department of Taxation and the State Compensation Board.
			The Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> shall annually report to the Governor, the General Assembly, the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for <span class="dictionary">Courts</span> of Justice, and the Virginia State <span class="dictionary">Crime</span> Commission on the total of <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> assessed, collected, and unpaid for each <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> and district <span class="dictionary">court</span> and the total of <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> collected and deposited into the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund pursuant to subsection I of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Restitution for property damage or loss; community service" href="/19.2-305.1/">19.2-305.1</a> by each <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> and district <span class="dictionary">court</span>. <a id="paragraph-290098" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-349/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The provisions of this section shall not apply to any <span class="dictionary">orders</span> of <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> docketed in the name of the victim or when it is ordered that an assignment of the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> for <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> to the victim be docketed. <a id="paragraph-290099" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-349/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 19.1-341.2; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495; 1979, c. 469; 1983, cc. 415, 499; 1988, cc. 742, 750, 770, 852; 1991, c. 202; 1992, c. 623; 1993, c. 269; 1994, cc. 841, 945; 2001, c. 414; 2003, c. 262; 2006, c. 359; 2007, c. 551; 2012, c. 615; 2017, cc. 786, 802, 806, 814; 2018, cc. 724, 725; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 190, 393; 2024, c. 518.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
