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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>65492</law_id><section_number>19.2-358</section_number><catch_line>Procedure on default in deferred payment or installment payment of fine, costs, forfeiture, restitution or penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-305.1</reference><reference>19.2-362</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="4">Payment of Fines and Costs on Installment Basis, etc</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> When an individual obligated to pay a fine, costs, forfeiture, or <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> <span class="dictionary">defaults</span> in the payment or any installment payment, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> upon the <span class="dictionary">motion</span> of the Commonwealth in the case of a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of a violation of a state <span class="dictionary">law</span>, or attorney for a locality or for the Commonwealth in the event of a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of a violation of a local <span class="dictionary">law</span> or <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, or upon its own <span class="dictionary">motion</span>, may require him to show cause why he should not be confined in jail or fined for nonpayment. A show cause proceeding shall not be required prior to issuance of a <span class="dictionary">capias</span> if an <span class="dictionary">order</span> to appear on a date certain in the event of nonpayment was issued pursuant to subsection A 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> and the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> failed to appear. <a id="paragraph-238092" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-358/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Following the order to show cause or following a <span class="dictionary">capias</span> issued for a <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s failure to comply with a <span class="dictionary">court order</span> to appear issued pursuant to subsection A 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>, unless the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> shows that his <span class="dictionary">default</span> for the payment of fines, costs, forfeitures, or penalties was not attributable to an intentional refusal to obey the sentence of the court, or not attributable to a failure on his part to make a good faith effort to obtain the necessary funds for payment, or unless the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> shows that any failure to appear was not attributable to an intentional refusal to obey the order of the court, the court may order the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> confined as for a <span class="dictionary">contempt</span> for a term not to exceed sixty days or impose a fine not to exceed $500. The court may provide in its order that payment or satisfaction of the amounts in <span class="dictionary">default</span> for the payment of fines, costs, forfeitures, or penalties at any time will entitle the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> to his release from such confinement or, after entering the order, may at any time reduce the sentence for good cause shown, including payment or satisfaction of such amounts. <a id="paragraph-238093" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-358/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If it appears that the <span class="dictionary">default</span> for the payment of fines, costs, forfeitures, or penalties is excusable under the standards set forth in subsection B, the court may enter an order allowing the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> additional time for payment, reducing the amount due or of each installment, or remitting the unpaid portion in whole or in part. <a id="paragraph-238094" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-358/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> When an individual obligated to pay <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> <span class="dictionary">defaults</span> in the payment or any installment payment, the court upon the <span class="dictionary">motion</span> of the Commonwealth in the case of a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of a violation of a state <span class="dictionary">law</span>, or attorney for a locality or for the Commonwealth in the event of a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of a violation of a local <span class="dictionary">law</span> or <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, or upon its own <span class="dictionary">motion</span>, may proceed in accordance with the procedures set forth in subsection E. <a id="paragraph-238095" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-358/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> If, pursuant to subsection D or at a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> conducted pursuant to subsection F of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Restitution for property damage or loss; community service" href="/19.2-305.1/">19.2-305.1</a>, the court finds that a <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is not in compliance with a <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> order, the court may order the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> confined as for a <span class="dictionary">contempt</span> for a term not to exceed 60 days unless the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> shows that his <span class="dictionary">default</span> was not attributable to an intentional refusal to obey the sentence of the court, or not attributable to a failure on his part to make a good faith effort to obtain the necessary funds for payment, or unless the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> shows that any failure to appear was not attributable to an intentional refusal to obey the order of the court. The court may provide in its order that payment or satisfaction of the amounts in <span class="dictionary">default</span> at any time will entitle the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> to his release from such confinement or, after entering the order, may at any time reduce the sentence for good cause shown, including payment or satisfaction of such amounts. If it appears that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">default</span> for the payment of <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> is excusable under the standards set forth in this subsection, the court may modify the terms for payment of <span class="dictionary">restitution</span>, except that the court may not modify the amount of <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> owed by the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>. <a id="paragraph-238096" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-358/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Nothing in this section shall be deemed to alter or interfere with the collection of fines by any means authorized for the enforcement of money <span class="dictionary">judgments</span> rendered in favor of the Commonwealth or any locality within the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-238097" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-358/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 19.1-347.6; 1973, c. 342; 1975, c. 495; 1977, c. 223; 1987, c. 238; 1988, cc. 770, 852; 1992, c. 485; 1994, c. 546; 2018, cc. 316, 671.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
