New York Laws
Article 420 - Fines, Restitution and Reparation
420.10 - Collection of Fines, Restitution or Reparation.

(i) That the defendant pay the entire amount at the time sentence is
pronounced;
(ii) That the defendant pay the entire amount at some later date; or
(iii) That the defendant pay a specified portion at designated
periodic intervals.
(b) When the court imposes both (i) a fine and (ii) restitution or
reparation and such designated surcharge upon an individual and imposes
a schedule of payments, the court shall also direct that payment of
restitution or reparation and such designated surcharge take priority
over the payment of the fine.
(c) Where the defendant is sentenced to a period of probation as well
as a fine, restitution or reparation and such designated surcharge, the
court may direct that payment of the fine, restitution or reparation and
such designated surcharge be a condition of the sentence.
(d) When a court requires that restitution or reparation and such
designated surcharge be made it must direct that notice be given to a
person or persons to whom it is to be paid of the conditions under which
it is to be remitted; the name and address of the public official or
organization to whom it is to be remitted for payment and the amount
thereof; and the availability of civil proceedings for collection under
subdivision six of this section. An official or organization designated
to receive payment under this subdivision must report to the court any
failure to comply with the order and shall cooperate with the district
attorney pursuant to his responsibilities under subdivision six of this
section.
(e) Where cash bail has been posted by the defendant as the principal
and is not forfeited or assigned, the court at its discretion may order
that bail be applied toward payment of any order of restitution or
reparation or fine. If the court so orders, the bail proceeds shall be
applied to payment first of the restitution or reparation and then of
the fine.
2. Death of victim. In the event that the individual to whom
restitution or reparation is to be made dies prior to completion of said
restitution or reparation, the remaining payments shall be made to the
estate of the deceased.
3. Imprisonment for failure to pay. Where the court imposes a fine,
restitution or reparation, the sentence may provide that if the
defendant fails to pay the fine, restitution or reparation in accordance
with the direction of the court, the defendant must be imprisoned until
the fine, restitution or reparation is satisfied. Such provision may be
added at the time sentence is pronounced or at any later date while the
fine, restitution or reparation or any part thereof remains unpaid;
provided, however, that if the provision is added at a time subsequent
to the pronouncement of sentence the defendant must be personally
present when it is added. In any case where the defendant fails to pay a
fine, restitution or reparation as directed the court may issue a
warrant directing a peace officer, acting pursuant to his special
duties, or a police officer, to take him into custody and bring him

before the court; provided, however, if the court in which the warrant
is returnable is a city, town or village court, and such court is not
available, and the warrant is addressed to a police officer, such
executing police officer must without unnecessary delay bring the
defendant before an alternate local criminal court, as provided in
subdivision five of section 120.90 of this chapter; or if the court in
which the warrant is returnable is a superior court, and such court is
not available, and the warrant is addressed to a police officer, such
executing police officer may bring the defendant to the local
correctional facility of the county in which such court sits, to be
detained there until not later than the commencement of the next session
of such court occurring on the next business day. Such warrant may also
be delegated in the same manner as a warrant pursuant to section 530.70
of this chapter. Where a sentence provides that the defendant be
imprisoned for failure to pay a fine, the court shall advise the
defendant that if he is unable to pay such fine, he has a right, at any
time, to apply to the court to be resentenced as provided in subdivision
five of this section.
4. Period of imprisonment. When the court directs that the defendant
be imprisoned until the fine, restitution or reparation be satisfied, it
must specify a maximum period of imprisonment subject to the following
limits:
(a) Where the fine, restitution or reparation is imposed for a felony,
the period may not exceed one year;
(b) Where the fine, restitution or reparation is imposed for a
misdemeanor, the period may not exceed one-third of the maximum
authorized term of imprisonment;
(c) Where the fine, restitution or reparation is imposed for a petty
offense, the period may not exceed fifteen days; and
(d) Where a sentence of imprisonment as well as a fine, restitution or
reparation is imposed, the aggregate of the period and the term of the
sentence may not exceed the maximum authorized term of imprisonment.
(e) Jail time and good behavior time shall be credited against the
full period of imprisonment, if served, as provided in section 70.30 of
the penal law for definite sentences.
5. Application for resentence. In any case where the defendant is
unable to pay a fine, restitution or reparation imposed by the court, he
may at any time apply to the court for resentence. In such case, if the
court is satisfied that the defendant is unable to pay the fine,
restitution or reparation it must:
(a) Adjust the terms of payment; or
(b) Lower the amount of the fine, restitution or reparation; or
(c) Where the sentence consists of probation or imprisonment and a
fine, restitution or reparation, revoke the portion of the sentence
imposing the fine, restitution or reparation; or
(d) Revoke the entire sentence imposed and resentence the defendant.
Upon such resentence the court may impose any sentence it originally
could have imposed, except that the amount of any fine, restitution or
reparation imposed may not be in excess of the amount the defendant is
able to pay.
In any case where the defendant applies for resentencing with respect
to any condition of the sentence relating to restitution or reparation
the court must order that notice of such application and a reasonable
opportunity to be heard be given to the person or persons given notice
pursuant to subdivision one of this section. If the court grants the
defendant's application by changing the original order for restitution
or reparation in any manner, the court must place the reasons therefor
on the record.

For the purposes of this subdivision, the court shall not determine
that the defendant is unable to pay the fine, restitution or reparation
ordered solely because of such defendant's incarceration but shall
consider all the defendant's sources of income including, but not
limited to, moneys in the possession of an incarcerated individual at
the time of his or her admission into such facility, funds earned by him
or her in a work release program as defined in subdivision four of
section one hundred fifty of the correction law, funds earned by him or
her as provided for in section one hundred eighty-seven of the
correction law and any other funds received by him or her or on his or
her behalf and deposited with the superintendent or the municipal
official of the facility where the person is confined.
6. Civil proceeding for collection. (a) A fine, restitution or
reparation imposed or directed by the court shall be imposed or directed
by a written order of the court containing the amount thereof required
to be paid by the defendant. The court's order also shall direct the
district attorney to file a certified copy of such order with the county
clerk of the county in which the court is situate except where the court
which issues such order is the supreme court in which case the order
itself shall be filed by the clerk of the court acting in his or her
capacity as the county clerk of the county in which the court is
situate. Such order shall be entered by the county clerk in the same
manner as a judgment in a civil action in accordance with subdivision
(a) of rule five thousand sixteen of the civil practice law and rules.
Even if the defendant was imprisoned for failure to pay such fine,
restitution or reparation, or has served the period of imprisonment
imposed, such order after entry thereof pursuant to this subdivision may
be collected in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action by the
victim, as defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision four of section 60.27
of the penal law, to whom restitution or reparation was ordered to be
paid, the estate of such person or the district attorney. The entered
order shall be deemed to constitute a judgment-roll as defined in
section five thousand seventeen of the civil practice law and rules and
immediately after entry of the order, the county clerk shall docket the
entered order as a money judgment pursuant to section five thousand
eighteen of such law and rules. Wherever appropriate, the district
attorney shall file a transcript of the docket of the judgment with the
clerk of any other county of the state. Such a restitution or reparation
order, when docketed shall be a first lien upon all real property in
which the defendant thereafter acquires an interest, having preference
over all other liens, security interests, and encumbrances whatsoever,
except:
(i) a lien or interest running to the benefit of the government of the
United States or the state of New York, or any political subdivision or
public benefit corporation thereof; or
(ii) a purchase money interest in any property.
(b) The district attorney may, in his or her discretion, and must,
upon order of the court, institute proceedings to collect such fine,
restitution or reparation.
7. Undisbursed restitution payments. Where a court requires that
restitution or reparation be made by a defendant, the official or
organization to whom payments are to be remitted pursuant to subdivision
one of this section may place such payments in an interest-bearing
account. The interest accrued and any undisbursed payments shall be
designated for the payment of restitution orders that have remained
unsatisfied for the longest period of time. For the purposes of this
subdivision, the term "undisbursed restitution payments" shall mean
those payments which have been remitted by a defendant but not disbursed

to the intended beneficiary and such payment has gone unclaimed for a
period of one year and the location of the intended beneficiary cannot
be ascertained by such official or organization after using reasonable
efforts.
8. Designation of restitution agency. (a) The chief elected official
in each county, and in the city of New York the mayor, shall designate
an official or organization other than the district attorney to be
responsible for the collection and administration of restitution and
reparation payments under provisions of the penal law and this chapter.
This official or organization shall be eligible for the designated
surcharge provided for by subdivision eight of section 60.27 of the
penal law.
(b) The restitution agency, as designated by paragraph (a) of this
subdivision, shall be responsible for the collection of data on a
monthly basis regarding the numbers of restitution and reparation orders
issued, the numbers of satisfied restitution and reparation orders and
information concerning the types of crimes for which such orders were
required. A probation department designated as the restitution agency
shall then forward such information to the office of probation and
correctional alternatives within the first ten days following the end of
each month. In all other cases the restitution agency shall report to
the division of criminal justice services directly. The division of
criminal justice services shall compile and review all such information
and make recommendations to promote the use of restitution and encourage
its enforcement.