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Worthless Check Unit
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2121 8th Avenue North Suite 1612
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Birmingham, AL 35203-2326
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(205) 325-1422
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The true costs of crime are often hidden. Jefferson County merchants lose tens of thousands of dollars every year because of checks written with insufficient funds to cover them. Businesses are forced to increase prices to cover these checks causing all of us to suffer. Other businesses close causing merchants to lose their livelihoods and employees their jobs. All consumers bear the cost of the crime of bad checks.
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The Worthless Check Unit of the District Attorney's Office was created in late 1992 to help businesses and victims minimize bad check losses. From 1993 to the present over $14M has been returned to victims in the Birmingham Division of Jefferson County by utilizing the
unit's deferred prosecution program. This means that 100% of the check plus the statutory merchant service charge is returned to the victim. First-time bad check writers can benefit from the deferred prosecution program by avoiding criminal prosecution. Although our primary goal is to return restitution to the victim without adding to the financial burden of the criminal justice system, many more thousands of dollars have been recovered through the court system. All restitution recovered is without cost to the victim. The law requires the bad check writer to pay a fee to cover our costs of enforcing
Alabama's worthless check laws. |
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The Check Unit is staffed by investigators and support personnel who vigorously pursue restitution owed to victims. Each investigator has over 20 years experience in law enforcement. A Deputy District Attorney is assigned to all court cases to represent the victims. Much of the process of obtaining a check warrant can now be completed online at this website, although clerical staff is also available at the above phone number to assist in the use of this system. You are urged to participate in this program if the need arises. An improved economic climate helps all, businesses and individuals alike.
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