She won't get prison time for a 3rd degree felony check, unless she has a LARGE number of misdemeanor convictions or a few felony convictions within the preceding 5 years. She'll get probation, if I had to guess, 2-3 years. The charge carries up to 5 in state prison. Part of her probation will be restitution on the check to you.
There will be a restitution hearing. The worthless check is proof of the initial damages. You are also entitled to a returned check fee, authorized by statute. You are also entitled to any and all other costs associated with this. Did any of your checks bounce as a result of her worthless check to you, for example. Get all that type of stuff ready.
There are no "deals" with a felony check. On misdemeanor checks, most counties allow the person to make restitution, pay the SA office a fee, and the warrant will then be rescinded. The misdemeaner will be "nolle prosque" or not processed, no conviction. Most SA's don't want to waste taxpayers time with small check amounts if the writer is willing to make good on the check.
On a felony check, you can turn yourself in or they'll get you in a traffic stop, or one morning early at your house. Counties do warrant sweeps from time to time. Hers is not a
"high priority" type of felony warrant. Yea, I know that doesn't help the person who had it written to them feel any better but that's how it goes.
She'll go to a first appearance within 24 hours. If she has a FTA history as some have stated she will receive a high bond whereas others would be ROR'd or given a very small bond.
If she can't afford the bail and find a writer who is willing to risk her, she is considered a high risk bond, then she'll sit in jail for up to 21 days when arraignment happens.
She can at that time change her plea to guilty and ask to be sentenced.
Part of her probation requirements will be to pay restitution, the amount determined at the hearing I mentioned earlier. She will have to pay monthly fees to the probation office and something towards your restitution. If she violates felony probation it is more than likely she'll be given a small prison time, such as a year and a day perhaps. Or reinstated on probation, OR given house arrest, much more severe than probation.
She violates it a 2nd time and she could very well end up serving every day of that 5 years inside a state prison facility.
Also, no time spent on probation is considered time served towards the 5 years. House arrest is considered "time" for that meaning.
Hope that helps.