Summary

The Criminal Fine Improvements Act of 1987 required the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC) to establish a criminal debt accounting and reporting system to (1) automate and centralize criminal debt processing for all 94 judicial districts and (2) replace the fragmented approach for receiving criminal fine payments and alleviate long-standing weaknesses in accounting for a reporting on criminal monetary penalties. Although AOUSC has made progress in centralizing new criminal debt information in 25 of the smaller judicial districts, significant challenges ahead will require extensive coordination between AOUSC, the Justice Department, and other system users if a system to centralize criminal debt processing for all 94 districts is to be successfully implemented. This testimony briefly addresses AOUSC's initial attempts to centralize criminal debt and implement a system and then discusses additional actions needed by AOUSC and the Justice Department to complete National Fine Center implementation.