The D.C. Safe Surrender Program is scheduled for three days in August, offering individuals with outstanding warrants for non-violent felonies and misdemeanors in Washington a chance to voluntarily surrender at District of Columbia Superior Court.
The program was created to bring down the number of outstanding warrants in the city and also provide fugitives with a safe place to surrender. Volunteers will first determine if participants have an active warrant, and if they do, an attorney will be appointed to represent them.
Between 8 and 10 attorneys from the D.C. Public Defender Service and Criminal Justice Act attorney panel will be on-site to assist.
The last time the program was held in October 2007, 530 offenders with outstanding warrants voluntarily surrendered. Of those offenders, more than 98 percent went home that day.
The program is a partnership between the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, D.C. Public Defender Service, D.C. Superior Court, Metropolitan Police Department, Office of Attorney General, Pretrial Services Agency, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Marshals Service.
The program will take place on August 13, 20 and 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Moultrie Courthouse, located at 500 Indiana Avenue, NW. For more information on the program and eligibility, visit www.dcsafesurrender.org.
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