Safe Surrender day in Delaware to clear up cases
WILMINGTON, De. – If you have any outstanding fines, a capias for a missed court date or a warrant out for you arrest Delaware officials want to talk to you. Today is Safe Surrender day for Delaware, where anyone can go to the Criminal Justice Center in Wilmington, from 9a.m. to 7p.m., to clear things up without additional penalties.
“Opportunity for anyone who has a wanted record of a capias or a warrant for the police or Delaware courts to turn themselves in and received favorable consideration,” Roof said.
Roger Roof of Northern Delaware Justice and Peace Court says that’s the deal offered until 7 Friday night.
“What that means is generally speaking they will turn themselves in and get a court date their case processed and be set on their way without fear of being hauled into a court in the back of a police car.”
Roof says on a normal day it could take anywhere from an hour to all day depending on how backed up the courts are to take care of a capias, or an arrest order.
“The goal is to try and take a big chunk of that out so that we give people the sense that the courts are not really here to punish people the job of the court is to help you clear up minor issues or even some bigger issues and get you the help that you need,” Roof said.
Roof says a bus full of people from Sussex County were checked in and had their cases closed before 11:00. Delaware State Police Senior Corporal Leonard DeMalto emphasizes that police and courts are not using the day to trick anyone into surrendering.
“Just remember that we are not looking to throw people in jail, we are looking to clear these warrants, and we will give special consideration to people who decide to come in who step up to the plate and help themselves.”
DeMalto says Public Defenders, Police, Department of Justice, Probation and Parole and court officials had representatives at the justice center expediting as many cases as possible.
“A warrant does not go away, if you have a warrant for very serious or very violent charges its not going away with time,” Senior Corporal DeMalto said. “We are here to improve your situation. All that we ask is that you come in, all the services will be there for you and we will get you out of there as soon as we can.”
As of March, there were over 55,000 capias’ in Delaware. The courts were hoping to clear at least 750 of them today. If you don’t make it, both police and officials say it is always better to turn yourself in than be arrested and brought to the court in handcuffs.
