Table of Contents
General Information & Eligibility
What is the Online Criminal Debt Payment system?
The Online Criminal Debt Payment system is an online pay.gov portal where supervisees will have the ability to make monetary payments specific to their Central District of California Judgment and Commitment Order.
What is the cost for using the Online Criminal Debt Payment system?
There are no additional fees or cost for using the payment system.
Can I use the Online Criminal Debt Payment system to make payments for cases sentenced in another district?
No. The Online Criminal Debt Payment system is only for cases originating and sentenced in the Central District of California (CACD). Fines and restitution obligations remain with the original sentencing district, even if jurisdiction is transferred to the CACD (effective 12/02/2023).
Who is eligible to make payments using the Online Criminal Debt Payment system for criminal debt?
An account can be established once a judgment or signed court order is issued, including monetary obligations such as Special Assessments, Restitution, and Fines. However, defendants must first register for the program to create their accounts. Refer to the Registration & Account Access session for details. Defendants can be approved to pay online provided:
- A Judgment/Court Order has been issued including monetary obligations.
- Defendants subject to certain post-conviction release conditions (related to internet use, credit cards, or wire fraud) must be reviewed in consultation with the Central District of California, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services office.
- For Transfers of Jurisdiction (TOJ) effective before 12/01/2023, consult OPERA to confirm if debt is still owed.
What types of criminal debt payments are accepted through the online payment system?
The general types of criminal debt accepted are:
- Special Assessments
- Restitution
- Fines
Note: Cash bonds will not be accepted via the Online Criminal Debt Payment system and must be paid in person at one of the divisional court houses within the district.
Are there special circumstances where I can make a payment before sentencing?
Yes, a defendant may make a payment to criminal debt before sentencing, but the Clerk's Office can only receipt the payment on order of the court. This is known as a Prejudgment Payment Order.
Can I make payments for a Pre-trial Diversion Agreement?
Yes. However, a court-signed Form PS 4 is required before an account can be approved and the Clerk's Office can receipt the collections of pretrial diversion monetary obligations.
Can I pay Central Violations Bureau (CVB) Obligations through this system?
CVB obligations must have a Judgment/Court Order establishing the monetary obligations. When approving an account, the judgment must verify that funds must be paid to the U.S. District Court and not directly to CVB. If debt must be paid directly to CVB, please contact the CVB offices for more information.
Registration & Account Access
How do I access the Online Criminal Debt Payment system?
Users must first register for the program to create their accounts. Please click this link to begin the registration process. Upon approval, you may log into the Online Criminal Debt Payment system to initiate payment.
What information is required when registering for the Online Criminal Debt Payment service?
Supervisees must provide a registered email address and have an online form of payment (such as debit card or bank routing and account number).
What if I do not have an email address? How can I make an online payment?
An email address is required and will need to be created to make an online payment.
I forgot my password. How do I access my account?
To reset your password, go to the Online Criminal Debt Payment login page and click the “Forgot Password” link. You will be prompted to enter your registered email address, and the reset instructions will be sent to that address.
Managing Payments & Balances
Where can I locate the balance of my restitution/fines?
The system displays a detailed payment history for each case. You must use this history, along with your original judgement order, to track your remaining outstanding balance. You can find all transaction details on the transaction history page. Always use the official case inquiry from the Fiscal Department to verify criminal debt obligation balances.
I have multiple docket numbers. How do I know my payment will be applied correctly? Will I receive a confirmation?
All cases with outstanding obligations will be listed in your account. You must select the specific docket number to which the payment should be applied. Once the payment is processed, you will be able to review your payment details, including the docket number, payment amount and payment tracking number.
What is the priority for how payments are applied?
- Special Assessment Fee
- Restitution
- Fine
When will I see my payment reflected in OPERA?
Once payments are cleared and uploaded to the accounting system, OPERA will reflect those payments in 1-2 business days. Fiscal processes payments daily, but you can use the user portal to see if your payment has been initiated and cleared.
Can I make a debit card or ACH payment in person?
No. Over the counter debit card/ACH payments will not be accepted. In-person payments must be made by check (up to $5,000.00), cashier’s check, or money order.
Troubleshooting & Errors
I made a payment to the wrong docket number. How do I cancel a payment?
You must request a refund by contacting the Fiscal department at fis_cac@cacd.uscourts.gov after making the payment to the correct docket number. Keep your confirmation number handy. Note that the Fiscal department has a holding period of 120 days from the date the payment clears to issue the refund.
I keep receiving error messages when I try to make a payment. Who should I contact?
Check that all payment details are entered correctly and that your funds are sufficient. If errors persist, contact your assigned Probation Officer for further assistance.
What happens if my payment via online payment is rejected or returned unpaid?
The following actions will take place when a payment is returned:
- An NSF fee of $53.00 will be assessed to the defendant's account.
- Probation will be notified, and the online account will be deactivated.
- A new payment of the original amount plus the $53.00 fee must be made in the form of cash, cashier’s check, or money order, either in person at a court location or mailed to the Fiscal Office at:
Fiscal Department
255 East Temple Street, RM. 1178
Los Angeles, CA 90012
How are refunds issued if a payment was made in error?
Refunds can only be issued to the individual or entity that made the original payment.
- For payments made by debit card, refunds must generally be credited back to the card originally charged. If the original card is no longer valid, or if the payment was made via ACH, a refund may be made by Treasury disbursement.
- All refund requests should be sent to the Fiscal Department at fis_cac@cacd.uscourts.gov for review and approval.
Contact & Support
Who should I contact when I cannot make a payment (financial hardship)?
You should contact your assigned Probation Officer to discuss the inability to make payments on outstanding penalties.
Who can I contact if I need assistance with the payment system?
If these Frequently Asked Questions do not resolve your issue, contact your assigned officer. Remember that they can only provide support for the payment portal and cannot answer case-specific questions.