Fines and costs; commitment instead of fine; default
Sec. 18. (a) Whenever the court imposes a fine, it shall conduct a
hearing to determine whether the convicted person is indigent. If the
person is not indigent, the court shall order:
(1) that the person pay the entire amount at the time sentence is
pronounced;
(2) that the person pay the entire amount at some later date;
(3) that the person pay specified parts at designated intervals;
or
(4) at the request of the person, commitment of the person to the
county jail for a period of time set by the court in lieu of a fine.
If the court orders a person committed to jail under this
subdivision, the person's total confinement for the crime that
resulted in the conviction must not exceed the maximum term
of imprisonment prescribed for the crime under IC 35-50-2 or
IC 35-50-3.
(b) Upon any default in the payment of the fine:
(1) an attorney representing the county may bring an action on
a debt for the unpaid amount; or
(2) the court may direct that the person, if the person is not
indigent, be committed to the county jail and credited toward
payment at the rate of twenty dollars ($20) for each twenty-four
(24) hour period the person is confined, until the amount paid
plus the amount credited equals the entire amount due.
As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.204-1986,
SEC.2; P.L.305-1987, SEC.35; P.L.137-1989, SEC.11.
Last modified: May 24, 2006