The General Assembly established the Worthless Check program in 1997 in
Columbus, Durham and Rockingham counties as a way to collect worthless
check payments in a more timely manner, alleviate the need to prosecute
each worthless check case and provide an opportunity for the worthless
check writer to avoid criminal prosecution. It was expanded to Wake County
in 1998 and then to Bladen, Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties in 1999.
Legislation in 2003 authorized the Administrative Office of the Courts to
expand the bad check program to "any prosecutorial district where economically
feasible" (if requested by the District Attorney). The Worthless Check Program
is self-funded from the fees collected. See Existing Programs to determine
which counties are currently established and see Expansion Programs to see
where the program will be implemented.
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