---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 10319"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "10319"
heading: "Costs of a criminal conviction"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/10319"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 103 — Foreign and Intercoastal Voyages"
---

# §10319. Costs of a criminal conviction


In a proceeding about a [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3)’s wages, if it is shown that the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) was convicted during the voyage of an offense by a competent tribunal and sentenced by the tribunal, the court hearing the case may direct that a part of the wages due the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3), but not more than $15, be applied to reimburse the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) for costs properly incurred in procuring the conviction and sentence.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 569.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 10319 | 46:707 |

Section 10319 provides that if a seaman was convicted during a voyage by a tribunal, that the court may direct that up to $15 of the seaman’s wages be used to reimburse the master for the costs incurred.