If eligible, you can use the time you spent in prison to deal with eligible fines and warrants to arrest. This is known as calling in your fines.

Who is eligible?

You can apply to have your fines called in, if you:

• are currently in prison serving a sentence
• were released from prison on remand within the last 6 months because
  • your charges were withdrawn
  • you were sentenced to time-served
  • you were not sentenced.

How can I apply?

You can apply online if:

• you are representing a person in prison
• you were in prison on remand and have been released in the last 6 months.

If you are representing a person in prison with warrants to arrest, you must apply at least 2 weeks before they are released. If they are released from prison before the court hearing, the warrants will remain outstanding.

• What fines can I call in?

  You can call in the below fines and warrants if the offences happened before you went into prison:

  • infringement and court fines registered with Fines Victoria (we will identify these for you)
  • warrants to arrest, if you are currently in prison on a sentence.
• What fines can’t I call in?

  You can’t call in fines:

  • that have not been registered with Fines Victoria to enforce yet, or
  • for offences that happened while you were in prison.

  You may be able to apply for a review of offences that happened while you were in prison. You should provide evidence of your prison dates with your application.

• What happens after I apply?

  Infringement and court fines

  If you have enough time in prison, we can waive your eligible fines (up to 24 months of prison time which equals about $148,500 in fines).

  We do this by calculating your time in prison against your fines - one day in prison equals one penalty unit.

  If you don’t have enough time or you are in prison on a fine-related sentence, we will apply to the court to decide how to deal with the extra fines.

  Depending on your circumstances, the court can:

  • discharge some or all the extra fines (discharged means finalised)
  • order you to pay by instalments or give you more time to pay
  • order you to do community work
  • order you to spend more time in prison, if there are no other options.

  Warrants to arrest

  If you have warrants to arrest (and apply while you are in prison on a sentence), we will refer your application to court.

  If you are released from prison before your court hearing, the warrants will remain outstanding. It’s important you apply at least 2 weeks before you are released.

  If you have enough prison time to cover your warrants to arrest (from your application date), the court can make a time-served order (this means the warrants will be finalised).

  If you don’t have enough time, the court can ask you if you want to spend more time in prison to cover your warrants. If you don’t want to spend more time in prison, the warrants will remain outstanding.

• What are my other options?

  If you aren’t eligible for the Prison Program, there are other options to deal with your outstanding fines. The options you have depend on your situation and the status of your fines.

  See your options for more information.

  If you need help to understand your options, you can seek legal advice. See Legal and financial assistance for more information.