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Henry County State's
Attorney |
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CHECK THEFT PROGRAM |
Millions of dollars are lost every
year to merchants as a result of the on going problem of bad check
crime. Bad checks affect everyone, pushing the costs of goods and
services higher to cover them. As you know, they can be
devastating to small businesses. Make no mistake, willful intent
to receive goods or services without payment is theft or fraud which
makes it an issue for the State’s Attorney’s Office.
In an effort to combat the losses from
bad check crime, without costing the county a small fortune in expense,
I’ve organized the Check Theft Program to assist merchants. The
primary goal of the program is to obtain FULL restitution for the victim
without adding to the financial burden of the criminal justice system.
The Check Theft Program is a
cooperative effort between public and private sectors. Merchants
in Henry County benefit from the program because they receive
restitution at no cost to them. First time bad check writers are
given the opportunity to avoid criminal prosecution by attending an
intervention class as well as paying restitution. If the person
fails to respond to the program, then prosecution proceedings may begin.
A check is eligible for the program
if:
It was
received in Henry County and deposited in a bank in exchange for goods
or services and presumed good at the time of acceptance;
The merchant can document
that they attempted to contact the offender;
The check was presented
twice to the bank, at least 7 days apart, and dishonored;
A photo i.d.
(driver’s license, military i.d. or state identification card) was recorded at the time of the transaction; and
It is submitted to the Check Theft Program within 45 days from the date
on the
check.
A check is ineligible for the
program if:
It is post-dated;
Both parties knew there were insufficient funds at the time of the
transaction;
It is a 2-party, government or payroll check;
The identity of the check writer is unknown; or
There is no amount or signature on the check.
If your business has received a bad
check that meets the eligibility requirements, call 1-888-700-0602 to
request a complaint form. Fill out the form and mail it to:
Henry County Check Theft Program, 307 West Center St., Cambridge, IL
61238.
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Henry County
State's Attorney,
Terence M. Patton
Phone: 309-937-3582
Fax 309-937-5936
Address
307 West Center Street
Cambridge IL 61238
Office Hours
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday - Friday
Email:
stattorney@henrycty.com
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