http://www.jimplowman.org Keeping Loudoun Safe Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:49:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://www.jimplowman.org/2011/03/2/ http://www.jimplowman.org/2011/03/2/#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:41:34 +0000 admin http://www.jimplowman.org/site/?p=284 ]]> http://www.jimplowman.org/2011/03/2/feed/ 0 http://www.jimplowman.org/2011/03/1/ http://www.jimplowman.org/2011/03/1/#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:40:30 +0000 admin http://www.jimplowman.org/site/?p=282 ]]> http://www.jimplowman.org/2011/03/1/feed/ 0 http://www.jimplowman.org/2011/03/plowman-kick-off-event/ http://www.jimplowman.org/2011/03/plowman-kick-off-event/#comments Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:07:29 +0000 admin http://www.jimplowman.org/site/2011/03/plowman-kick-off-event/ Title: Plowman Kick Off Event
Location: The Greene Turtle in Leesburg
Directions: Click here
Start Time: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Date: March 28, 2011]]> http://www.jimplowman.org/2011/03/plowman-kick-off-event/feed/ 0 http://www.jimplowman.org/2011/03/press-releases/ http://www.jimplowman.org/2011/03/press-releases/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:54:45 +0000 admin http://www.jimplowman.org/site/?p=170 LEESBURG, VA, March 15, 2011 – The five-year anniversary of Loudoun County’s Check Enforcement Program reveals in excess of $183,000 in direct recovery in the form of restitution to victims of bad check writing and over $34,500 in victim fees. “We continue to receive positive feedback and steady use of this program from the business community and our expectations are being met consistently each year,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Plowman of the program he instituted in February 2006.  “The five year mark is a significant milestone in that we have seen this program receive consistent use by the business community; its successes have far exceeded our initial expectations,” he added.

The Check Enforcement Program gives merchants and other victims an effective, no-cost way to recover funds lost to bad checks while also helping businesses avoid receiving bad checks in the first place.  It further helps to educate bad check offenders from passing bad checks in the future.  “We currently have several hundred merchants in Loudoun County registered with the program,” Plowman stated.  The Program has handled over 3,000 checks during the five year period.

Similar to other diversion programs, the Check Enforcement Program offers “bad check” writers a final opportunity to avoid the possibility of prosecution.  To steer clear of a visit to the Judge, bad check writers must fulfill the conditions of the program.  The first condition is to make full restitution to the victims, which includes a victim service fee to cover the costs incurred as a result of the bad check.  Check writers will also pay the fees required to administer the Program.  This way, there is no cost to victims, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office or the taxpayers.  Offenders pay the entire cost of this program.

Additionally, the police, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the courts are relieved of having to investigate, prosecute and try a large number of bad check cases through the formal court process.  “Most citizens would be very surprised to learn the number of bad check cases that were being referred to law enforcement.  With manpower restrictions and tight budgetary constraints, those resources can be directed at more significant areas such as crimes that involve personal safety,” said Plowman.

The Program is designed to recover restitution for victims who have accepted worthless checks from bad-check writers.  The cases accepted into the Program are diverted from the normal court system prior to charges being filed.  Should the program prove unsuccessful, prosecution remains an available alternative.

The Program deals with checks that were dishonored because of Insufficient Funds, Closed Account or No Account.  Check forgeries, stolen checks or counterfeit checks should be referred to law enforcement immediately.  “We screen all cases first to make sure that a given case is appropriate for the program.  This includes checks of an unusually high amount,” Plowman stated.  “The deliberate thieves and those with a notable criminal history still go to court.”

Loudoun County was the fifth jurisdiction in Virginia to initiate this type of Program and the first in the Northern Virginia region.  Several other Virginia jurisdictions have followed suit and instituted similar programs across the state.  “This effort has proven to be a more efficient and effective way to handle these matters without unnecessarily tying up limited resources,” Plowman stated.  “If the Program didn’t work, businesses wouldn’t use it.  It’s an entirely optional program and it simply gives businesses an additional option to recovery.”

To learn more about the Check Enforcement Program, or how your business can participate, please contact Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Ryan Perry at (703) 777-0242.]]> http://www.jimplowman.org/2011/03/press-releases/feed/ 0