On three Saturdays this month, the DC Superior Court will be holding "Safe Surrender" days. This means that if you have outstanding warrants in DC, by going to the Moultrie Courthouse this August 13th, 20th, or 27th before 4:30 p.m. you can turn yourself in, have a hearing, and possibly go home that day.

Typically, turning yourself in for an outstanding warrant involves having to be at the courthouse before 10:00 a.m. and spending hours in handcuffs or shackles until a judge finds time for your arraignment. Instead, if you use the program you can resolve your warrant in a quiet and civilized way, without the risk of being hunted down by law enforcement at your home or job, or arrested during a traffic stop and having your car impounded as a result. The 2007 program let about 500 people turn themselves in and resolve their outstanding warrants safely and quietly, and all but 10 of those people went home that same day.

Keep in mind though, that not all warrants are eligible for the program. If you have bench warrants in pending cases or warrants in DC for criminal charges, parole or probation violations, or for having failed to appear in court, Safe Surrender may work for you. But, it is limited to cases involving non-violent felonies and misdemeanors or traffic violations. If you have warrants based on a crime of violence, domestic violence, juvenile matters, child neglect, or child support, then you are not eligible for the program. Remember, this program only applies to District of Columbia warrants and will not shield you from answering warrants in another jurisdiction or state, or in any other court than DC Superior.

To see if you are eligible for Safe Surrender, go to www.dcsafesurrender.org and click "Bench Warrants" in the left-side panel for a complete listing.

The goal of the "Safe Surrender" program is to offer people an opportunity to answer their warrants safely, without law enforcement storming into their homes or jobs with their families, friends, or co-workers as witnesses. It gives you the rare chance to gain some peace of mind and stop wondering "when will they catch me?" Lastly, if you are eligible and turn yourself in on one of these days not only will you likely go home without spending a night in jail, but an experienced defense attorney could use your surrender to negotiate a favorable outcome in your case.

While you could go to Safe Surrender without legal representation, you should consult with an experienced DC defense attorney first. Being represented by qualified counsel before turning yourself in would benefit you in having a consistent advocate by your side throughout your case who understands the criminal justice system.
If you would like to turn yourself in during this program simply go to:

DC Superior Court
Moultrie Courthouse
500 Indiana Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001

On one of three Saturdays offering the program:
August 13th, August 20th, or August 27th between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

This blog post was written by Rosie Escobar. Rosie is a law clerk at Price Benowitz LLP and goes to Fordham University School of Law. Please contact Price Benowitz LLP for a free consultation. We also have attorneys in both Maryland and Virginia, so please visit our Falls Church criminal lawyer and Talbot criminal lawyer sites for more information on those offices.

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