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NEW
BRUNSWICK – Approximately 1,400 individuals
from across New Jersey have turned themselves
in at Fugitive Safe Surrender as of noon
today, the mid-point of the four-day event.
The total includes 936 who voluntarily surrendered
on Wednesday, and exceeds the number seen
during the equivalent time frame during
last year’s Fugitive Safe Surrender
event, held November 2009 in Newark.
New
Jersey Attorney General Paula T. Dow, State
Parole Board Chairman James T. Plousis and
the Reverend Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr.,
Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of
Lincoln Gardens, lauded the event during
a media conference this afternoon.
“The
opportunity to surrender at a neutral location
– this magnificent church –
and receive favorable consideration from
the court is helping so many people get
back on track towards leading productive,
law-abiding lives,” Attorney General
Dow said. “If you have an outstanding
warrant, many doors will be closed, many
opportunities will be missed, especially
job opportunities to allow you to lead a
productive life. I encourage any fugitive
out there, who is debating whether or not
to take action, to do it. This may be the
last time this program is offered in New
Jersey.”
“Fugitive
Safe Surrender was created, first and foremost,
to prevent the risk of harm, both for law
enforcement officers and for individuals
who are wanted even for minor offenses such
as unpaid municipal fines,” Parole
Chairman – and former US Marshal –
Plousis said. “The 1,400
people who have turned themselves in so
far represent a tremendous success for public
safety, and for the lives of those who will
no longer have to live in hiding.”
“First
Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens chose
to participate in this program because its
emphasis is on upholding the rule of law,
and encouraging people to take responsibility
for their actions,” Pastor Soaries
said. “Rather than being given amnesty,
they are held accountable and required to
make some amends to society for what they
have done. Sometimes good people commit
bad actions. For those people, this is a
limited opportunity to come forward and
make things right.”
Some
facts from today:
•
A total of approximately 1,400 individuals
(including 936 on Wednesday) have turned
themselves in as of noon today. None have
been taken into custody. A more complete
total, with breakdowns by types of warrant
and by the counties at which the warrant
originated, will be available Monday.
•
It has been estimated that each person who
voluntarily surrenders on a non-violent
municipal offense such as unpaid parking
fees represents a savings of approximately
$420. This includes the cost of the average
two-and-a-half-day jail stay for arrests
on municipal charges, and the police man-hours
involved in arresting, transporting and
processing the wanted individual. This does
not include the additional economic gains
realized through municipalities’ ability
to
collect fines and court fees that would
otherwise not be paid; the collection of
driver’s license restoration fees
for those newly able to regain their driving
privileges; and the fact that those living
on the right side of the law are more employable
and productive.
“Fugitive
Safe Surrender-Central Jersey” began
Wednesday, November 3 and will continue
through Saturday, November 6, at First Baptist
Church of Lincoln Gardens, 771 Somerset
Street, Somerset, NJ 08873. Individuals
wanted on warrants issued by any New Jersey
state, county or mulaw enforcement agency
may voluntarily surrender at the church
from 9 am
to 4 pm on those days.
Fugitive
Safe Surrender is not an amnesty program,
but individuals wanted for non-violent offenses
will be given favorable consideration for
their decision to voluntarily and peacefully
surrender, face the court and take responsibility
for their offenses. Individuals wanted for
violent crimes may also surrender, but they
are very likely to be taken into custody.
Members
of the public may call 732-828-2009
or visit www.FSSNJ.com
for more information.
Fugitive
Safe Surrender is made possible with help
from a host of agencies and organizations
at the Federal, State, county, municipal,
community-based and faith-based levels.
The Rutgers School of Criminal Justice and
the Rutgers Police Institute are convening
the discussions
between partner agencies, inviting social
service organizations to participate and
offer services to those who surrender, organizing
and training volunteers to serve at the
surrender site, and conducting community
outreach to make fugitives and their families
aware of the opportunity to surrender. A
full list of the partner agencies and organizations
is available.
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