NCJ Number
132713
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 60 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1991) Pages: 15-19
Date Published
1991
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Banking officials estimate that about 1 percent of the 50 billion checks written in the United States each year are returned due to nonsufficient funds (NSF), and one California county has developed a program to deal with the NSF check problem.
Abstract
Traditionally, only individuals who write many bad checks or who pass NSF checks for large dollar amounts are pursued. Because restitution is available only for victimized individuals or businesses that are included in a criminal prosecution or are able to pursue a civil remedy successfully, many victims simply do not submit NSF checks to law enforcement agencies. To combat the NSF check problem in Ventura County, California, the district attorney's office established a NSF Check Restitution and Prosecution Unit in 1986. The unit prepares and sends letters to NSF check writers, giving them the opportunity to make full restitution and pay a $25 fee for each NSF check. If the individual fails to respond to the first letter, a second letter is sent. This letter requests full restitution and the $25 fee, but also requires the addressee to attend a 4-hour diversion class for which there is a $40 fee. The class emphasizes prioritizing resources, value orientation, and how to balance a checkbook accurately. Of 1,422 individuals attending the diversion class to date, only 5 continued to write NSF checks. Ventura County's approach is detailed in terms of the handling of restitution funds, cost-effectiveness, benefits to law enforcement, and the public information component. 1 footnote