will i go to jail for writting a bad check?

Question

i live in ca. and i wrote some bad checks. the problem was that i had the money to put in my account but they kept sending the checks (which i didnt know they did that) so i had all these charges and i couldnt put the money in. i don't live at my moms and im only 19 years old so i dont really have a lot of money. but anyways the mail i kept getting from the ca bad check restitution program was going to my mom's address and we havent been talking for a while but i got the mail finally and now i have to go to court for it. i really just want to set up a payment plan and do community service and i signed up for the class they want you to take. do you think ill get jail time. i'm pregnant now and it would be horrible to go to jail. what does everyone think, will i go to jail?

Answer 1

I obviously do not know everything about your case, but in general the odds would be very, very low that you would go to jail. After all, what the system wants is for you to make good on the checks so that nobody suffers a loss, not to have the taxpayers pay to have you locked up. I would not worry about it.

If you cannot afford counsel, you are entitled to have an attorney appointed to represent you. Take advantage of this; do not try to handle it by yourself. There are all sorts of options available in cases like this, and you need an attorney to guide you through it.

Answer 2

No, the whole point of the bad check restitution program is to avoid a trial. If you have to go into court, just tell the judge that you weren't getting the mail but now you are enrolled in the restitution course. If you finish the course and make good on the checks you'll be fine.

Answer 3

I don't know the laws in CA, but generally, from what I've heard, first of all you have to immediately pay back the money (not in installments), and, if this is your first time and it's under $1,000 then it "may" be considered a misdemeanor which you would probably do community service but it goes on your criminal record, so later people will be hesitant to hire you.

I understand that if it's over $1,000 then it's considered a felony and of course people do time for felonies and that will surely hurt your career and your income for the rest of your life. People who write bad checks once usually do it more times in their lifetime so employers won't want you dealing with their money, and once you're in jail well people talk with each other and you may learn to steal as well, or at least employers see it that way, so you've ruined your future, and uture income.

You've got to solve this and never do it again. If you have any money in your pocket now go get a money order for that amount (make a copy of the money order) and send it to the bank that you wronged, to be put into your account.

Nobody cares if your'e pregnant (that's your problem, your situation), and, inmates do have children from behind bars.

So make your appearance in court and learn your lesson. Like they say, "don't do the crime if you don't have the time"

I'm not sure what you mean by you're "only" 19. You became an adult at 18, and, you're pregnant....so, welcome to the "real world". It isn't going to be easy.

Answer 4

Make it a habit and you will, and from what you wrote you are in big trouble. Remember in Ca. if you write a bad check the person you wrote it to can sue for treble charges and the judge will give it to them. You will owe three times the amount of the check.
If you are already getting letters from the bad check restitution program, the DA. already has the case and if you donot respond and set up payments. You are headed to jail.

Answer 5

first off, although history, you should have gotten with the restitution compny to make pmnt arrangements. Now current day, you will go to court, not jail. You will get a court fine for appearing, a fine for the bad checks and have to repay the checks plus resistution. that is, a 25$ check, will be repaid at 25.00 plus 150.00 (example) for writing bad check, the judge MAY discharge the fees for the company who kept trying to cash it IF you have good excuse. In future, if its a bad check, try dealing directly with the company to make pymnt to fix it, otherwise court is more expensive. Mistake learned. Move on.

Answer 6

It's called check kiting. The worst? US Federal Law (18 U.S.C. sec. 1344) applies to federally insured financial institutions. Federal penalties can be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both. But seldom are the maximum penalties applied. I don't know the particulars of your case, so can't give you any idea of what your penalty would be. Your need an attorney.

Answer 7

Why did you stop writing checks? I know that you have more left over.

Answer 8

Yes certainly upon conviction.
jtm

Answer 9

There's a real good chance.

Answer 10

ill answer this question....not......you might pay me with a check