Central Violations Bureau | Federal Public Defender

What is the Central Violations Bureau or CVB?

Central Violations Bureau (CVB) refers to those petty offenses (as defined under 18 U.S.C. 19) that occur on federal property, such as federal buildings, national parks, military bases, post offices, Veteran Affairs centers, Social Security Administration Offices, local national forests (i.e., Chugach National Forest), national wildlife refuges (i.e., Kenai National Wildlife Refuge), and any other areas that are patrolled or under the jurisdiction of the federal government. In the District of Alaska, CVB matters include violations occurring on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Fort Wainwright, Eielson Air Force Base, and all other military installations in the State. Federal citations are issued by law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Protective Service (FPS), the U.S. Park Police, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Department of Defense Police, Military Security Forces, U.S. Postal Police, U.S. Customs, U.S. Border Police, and V.A. Police.

I have received a ticket while on federal property in Alaska, now what do I do?
If you have received a ticket for a minor offense while on federal property, you generally have the option of either paying the fine or contesting the ticket. If you choose to pay the fine, please follow the instructions on the ticket you received. By paying the amount due you may be admitting to a criminal offense, and a conviction may appear in a public record with adverse consequences to you. By paying the amount due you waive your right to:

contest this violation notice
to a trial, and
to be represented by counsel.

If you are charged with a motor vehicle violation, your payment may be reported to your state's motor-vehicle or driver-licensing agency. As a result, points may be assessed against your driving record, your license or registration may be suspended, and additional fees may be imposed by your state. A driver education course (traffic school) may be an option to avoid these consequences. If you are interested in a driver-education course, do not pay the amount due. Call CVB at 1-800-827-2982 for more information. The Office of the Federal Public Defender cannot assist with any matters concerning your state's licensing authority.

If you wish to pay the fine but require a payment plan or other accommodation, please attend your court date and make your request directly to the Judge.

If you choose to contest your ticket, do not pay. Appear in court at the date and time (1) written on your ticket, and/or (2) provided in a Notice to Appear from the US District Court or prosecuting authority.

If you fail to appear in court or otherwise fail to make alternative arrangements to address your citation, a warrant may be issued for your arrest. If you believe a warrant may have already been issued for your arrest, please contact the Office of the Federal Public Defender.

Do I have a right to a court-appointed attorney to represent me on a CVB matter?

The court will appoint an attorney to represent you if the government is seeking a jail sentence. This will depend on the type of charge. The court may appoint an attorney to represent you even if the government is not seeking jail time.

The Office of the Federal Public Defender is available to answer questions and provide limited legal consultation services for any CVB matter. Whether FPD can be appointed for formal representation is a determination made by the court on a case-by-case basis.

If you have any questions before your court date, you may contact the Office of the Federal Public Defender: akx_CVB@fd.org or (907) 646-3400.

Where can I find more information about CVB?

For more information about the Central Violations Bureau, visit https://www.cvb.uscourts.gov/.

Where can I find more information about Court in the District of Alaska?

For more information about Alaska's federal courthouses, contact information, and calendaring visit https://www.akd.uscourts.gov/.

CVB Docket: Anchorage U.S. District Court

A representative from the Office of the Federal Public Defender will attend your court date. This representative can answer questions or assist you in your discussions with the prosecutor. If you wish to speak with a public defender on the day of your hearing, please arrive at the courthouse at least 30 minutes before your scheduled hearing time.

CVB Docket: Fairbanks U.S. District Court

A representative from the Office of the Federal Public Defender can appear telephonically at your court date, if requested. Please contact FPD at least two weeks prior to your court date to make this request.

CVB Docket: Juneau U.S. District Court