WASHINGTON 鈥� For those living their lives聽looking over their shoulders,聽Operation Safe Surrender may be a chance to turn their lives around.
鈥淭here are now outstanding about 12,000 bench warrants,鈥� said Judge Lynn Leibovitz, the presiding judge of the criminal division at D.C. Superior Court. 鈥淟etters have been sent to 9,500 people or so 鈥� and most of those people have nonviolent charges 鈥� because they missed court, failed to appear, or because they were on probation or parole and were alleged to have violated.鈥�
Every Saturday for the rest of September, these people can show up to D.C. Superior Court and, once their status is confirmed, meet with a lawyer. Then, they can go before a judge to begin rectifying things.聽The program is in effect in D.C. for the third time since 2007.
Willie Jones, who now lives in Forestville, Maryland, said taking advantage of the program聽was the best decision he ever made.
鈥淚 was on everything that could change my mood: crack, heroin, alcohol,鈥� said Jones, who court officials saw praying outside Bible Way Church the first time Operation Safe Surrender was run in 2007. Ultimately, Jones聽decided to go through the program.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful chance for you to get your life on track,” he said. 鈥淲hen you have a warrant, you鈥檙e stagnant, you can鈥檛 do nothing, you can鈥檛 get a job, you can rarely even drive because when the police pull you over, they run your name [and] you鈥檙e going in.”
Two of the previous times the program was held, 98 percent of those who did turn themselves in were able to go home, Liebovitz said.
鈥淩eally, in any case where somebody has an outstanding warrant and they walk in as opposed to waiting to be arrested, we do give that strong consideration because it shows you鈥檙e willing basically to own up to what鈥檚 happened,” Liebovitz said.
Back in 2007, Jones was one of those who got to go home 鈥� and that is why he can now be seen walking around D.C. Superior Court wearing a shirt that says, 鈥淭he first step for a new beginning. The first step, for a second chance.鈥�
鈥淚 do what normal people do now,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淚 work, I got a job, I got a stable place to live. It鈥檚 just turned my life around 100 percent.鈥�
