DOVER, Del. - The Delaware court system will hold a safe surrender event in Dover in November to give those with outstanding warrants a "safe" time and place to resolve their issues and receive favorable consideration from judges. Those with outstanding warrants or capiases can clear their records in a one-stop, daylong event with help from the entire justice system.
More than half a dozen judges and courtrooms will be set aside in the Kent County Courthouse for the event, which is scheduled for Nov. 3. Public defenders, prosecutors, police and probation officers will all be on hand to help people clear any outstanding warrants and pending failure to appear or failure to pay notices, including child support, quickly and efficiently.
Though it is being held in Kent County, the event is open to anyone and was planned to be more convenient to residents in southern Delaware. A similar event held this spring in Wilmington saw nearly 450 people attend to clear their records. About 575 capiases were cleared, as well.
"Our May event in Wilmington was a great success, so much so we felt it would be worth holding it again, but this time in Kent County," said Justice of the Peace Court Chief Magistrate Alan Davis. "These events give people a chance to reclaim a part of their lives so they can stop looking over their shoulders. Judges are not looking to simply inflict punishment, they are looking for solutions, and events like this give us an opportunity to make that clear."
Though it is not an amnesty event, judges will be giving special consideration to those who proactively come forward to clear their names. Officials expect the majority who participate will leave the courthouse with their warrants cleared.
Those facing a failure to pay warrant will be likely be directed to a payment center to either pay their debt in full or set up a payment plan to resolve the warrant. Those with failure to appear notices will be sent to appear before a judge, and in many cases will likely leave the courthouse with a new date and time to appear. However, officials will still evaluate on a case-by-case basis. A person facing a warrant for a violent felony may be taken into custody, according to the courts.
Multiple organizations like civic groups, churches and state agencies will have tables set up on the green space adjacent to the courthouse to provide assistance to safe surrender participants. Officials say those participating can bring a friend or family member to accompany them during the process, but due to the volume of people expected and security concerns, participants will be limited to one accompaniment inside the courthouse.
The safe surrender event will take place at the Kent County Courthouse on Federal Street on Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Those unsure about their wanted status can check it here.