When bad checks are passed to local businesses, the crime affects more than just that business.  Bad checks affect everyone when higher costs are passed on to consumers to offset losses and when taxes are increased to cover additional costs for law enforcement and prosecution.

Merchants lose millions of dollars every year because of this ongoing problem.

In an effort to combat the problem, District Attorney Jim Martin organized the Bad Check Restitution Program to assist local merchants with bad check losses. The primary goal is to get full restitution for the victim without adding to the financial burden of the criminal justice system.

First-time bad check offenders are given an opportunity to avoid criminal prosecution by attending a mandatory intervention class and paying restitution. This is accomplished without any cost to the taxpayers.

Since the program was started in 2005, it has recovered more than $498,000 for victims of bad check offenses and has generated more than $56,000 in revenue for the county.

Click Here for more information about the program.