<\/a><\/p>\nAbout 101 outstanding warrants were cleared in Arapahoe County on Saturday at the Second Chances event.<\/p>\n
Second Chances was for people who fell out of compliance with the court \u2014 they missed a court date, failed to pay a fine, or didn\u2019t meet probation obligations \u2014 and a judge issued an arrest warrant, according to an Arapahoe County District Attorney\u2019s Office news release.<\/p>\n
The DA\u2019s office and partners, including 18th Judicial District Chief Judge Michelle Amico, Office of the Public Defender, Probation Department, AllHeath Network, Stride, Aurora Mental Health, Tri-County Health Department and Arapahoe County Human Services worked on bringing the Second Chances event together. The event happened at Aurora CentrePoint Plaza on East Alameda Drive where a collections office was opened to clear any fines and a temporary courtroom was set up. The event was pitched by word of mouth, flyers, and on social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe criminal justice system can be complicated, and it\u2019s not perfect,\u201d said District Attorney John Kellner, in the release. \u201cWhen my team proposed a way to get willing defendants back on track, I was all in. This event shows that collaboration can lead to results that make a meaningful difference in people\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Participants lined up early, many with family and supporters along, for the second chance. Some had outstanding traffic cases, first-time DUI arrests or petty offenses. There were 31 people with low-level felonies, such as drug possession, according to the release. Prior to clearing the warrant, people knew that any random contact police could lead to an arrest, booking and jail.<\/p>\n
Defendants came from as far as Tennessee, Ohio and Nebraska to clear a warrant. One man cleared a 2013 juvenile case.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe showed up to the event, checked in with the public defender, and his attorney worked with a prosecutor,\u201d the release said. \u201cHe was able to appear before Judge Amico, enter into a plea agreement and resolve the case.\u201d<\/p>\n
People wanted for warrants on class 5 and 6 felonies, class 4 drug felonies, misdemeanors and traffic offenses were eligible. Participants were able to resolve cases or set new court dates. Some people cleared multiple warrants.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want every defendant to comply with court orders, but we understand that sometimes life gets in the way,\u201d said Senior Chief Deputy District Attorney Vicki Klingensmith. \u201cAnd once you fall out of compliance, figuring out how to straighten things out can be daunting. It was wonderful to see that burden instantly lifted for so many people.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Arapahoe County Sheriff\u2019s Office provided security for Amico\u2019s temporary courtroom.<\/p>\n\n
For every warrant cleared, the sheriff\u2019s office estimated it would have cost them:<\/p>\n
\n- Two hours for a deputy making an arrest<\/span><\/li>\n
- Four hours for the booking process at the jail<\/span><\/li>\n
- $128 if the defendant spent the night in jail<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cThe Second Chances warrant event displayed the collaborative efforts of community partners to allow individuals to navigate through their warrant and the criminal justice system without the fear of being held at the county jail,\u201d said Sheriff Tyler Brown. \u201cI commend Chief Judge Amico and District Attorney Kellner and all the community partners for their forward
thinking and willingness to try new approaches to criminal justice accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not long before the event was scheduled to end (at 2 p.m.), a woman hesitantly walked through the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy friends told me this was a trap,\u201d she told volunteers, according to the release. \u201cBut I told them I didn\u2019t care, I wanted to get this cleared up.\u201d About 90 minutes later, she went out the same door with a smile on her face and gave a thumbs-up.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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