Those with bench warrants in Georgia County get fresh start
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — For two days next week, more than 3,500 people who have active bench warrants in Richmond County dating back to the 1990s can clear their names at a reduced rate.
The Fresh Start Initiative will allow many of those with the warrants to pay off fines at a discount, Sheriff Richard Roundtree told The Augusta Chronicle (http://bit.ly/2fJe2UM).
The 3,500 cases range from traffic offenses to some misdemeanor offenses that could easily be cleared with a fine and do not involve a court appearance, the Augusta newspaper reported.
As part of the initiative, which will run Wednesday and Thursday, the sheriff's office will waive the $35 bench warrant fee while the courts and county government have agreed to reduce fines by 40 percent if they are paid in full.
At the end of the program, Roundtree says anyone whose name still appears on the list could face the possibility of arrest and processed through the normal judicial procedures.
Residents with outstanding warrants stand the chance of being stopped by an officer and jailed, but the sheriff said the cost to house a person for two days is often more than the fine.
Many people might be in a better financial position or have a better job than they were years ago when the offense occurred, but they've had the active warrant constantly hanging over their heads, Roundtree said.
"This is not a money making venture," he said at a recent news conference. "It's about people."
The initiative will run 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the Henry Brigham Center Senior Center.
At the end of the program, anyone whose name still appears on the list could face the possibility of arrest and be processed through the normal judicial procedures, authorities said.
Participants will be required to sign a legal notice acknowledging they are waiving their rights to an attorney, trial or legal offense and are admitting to the offense. It also acknowledges that the charge may still appear on their driving record or affect their license status.
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Information from: The Augusta Chronicle , http://www.augustachronicle.com