---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 3615"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "3615"
heading: "Criminal default"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/3615"
units:
  - "Part II — Criminal Procedure"
  - "Chapter 229 — Postsentence Administration"
  - "Subchapter B — Fines"
---

# §3615. Criminal default


Whoever, having been sentenced to pay a fine, willfully fails to pay the fine, shall be fined not more than twice the amount of the unpaid balance of the fine or $10,000, whichever is greater, imprisoned not more than one year, or both.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 212(a)(2), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2006.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

For prior sections 3615 to 3620, applicable to offenses committed prior to Nov. 1, 1987, see note set out preceding section 3601 of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### 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.