Misdemeanor warrants for failing to appear for a court date, traffic warrant or a violation of probation are minor, but they bog down dockets for the courts and judges. And they create anxiety for those charged, thinking they’ll be taken directly to jail if they try to clear them up in person at the courthouse.
The Osceola Clerk of Court & Comptroller’s Office, in cooperation with the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court and the county's three law enforcement agencies will hold a Safe Surrender Event on Thursday, April 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Osceola County Housing and Community Services (1392 E. Vine St. in the Mill Creek shopping plaza, next to Cici's Pizza).
Safe Surrender is an opportunity for U.S. citizens with outstanding non-violent Osceola County misdemeanor or traffic warrants to safely turn themselves in and have their warrants reviewed, court dates reset and potentially resolved instead of being arrested. Participants must bring some form of photo ID. Children, weapons or drugs are not permitted. Domestic violence and battery cannot be resolved at this event.
Safe Surrender is not an amnesty program, merely a system for safe and structured way to address eligible warrants and begin resolving legal matters away from the angst of the courthouse.
Previous participants expressed their gratitude for this event as it allowed those individuals to set a new court date appearance without receiving jail time, paying additional fines, or having to miss work, without the embarrassment of being potentially arrested in front of their families or co-workers. Local county judges who have participated in previous events also raved about the ability to clear dockets of these cases, which often occur because of a person’s “one bad day making a mistake,” and the legal follow-ups to that.
For questions about: call the Osceola County Clerk’s Office at 407-742-3500.
Violation of Probation warrants: call the Probation Office at 407-742-4702.
Non-VOP warrants: call the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at 407-742-6500.
Other event questions:
