newjerseynewsroom.com

13,276 have done so in New Jersey since 2008

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

A total of 3027 people sought by authorities voluntarily turned themselves in at four-day Fugitive Safe Surrender event that ended Wednesday in Atlantic City. The state attorney general’s office announced Thursday.

The number of people who have turned themselves in at five surrender events in New Jersey since 2008 totals 13,276, including the record 4,103 individuals who surrendered at a Newark event in 2009.

Additionally, four of the New Jersey surrender events rank among the top six of the 25 that have been held around the country since 2008. With the 13,276 surrenders, New Jersey now ranks number one in the nation for total number of surrenders.

More than $60,000 was collected during the Atlantic City event, including $45,560 in municipal income, $12,970 in state Superior Court/Child Support income, and $2,031 in Superior Court and probation income.

Each person who voluntarily surrenders represents an estimated savings of $420 to local government, counting the jail and police manpower costs involved in arresting and holding someone wanted on a traffic warrant or other municipal warrant – resources that can now be dedicated to other public safety matters.

The estimate does not include the collection of fines, court fees and driver’s license restoration fees that would otherwise go unpaid, and other benefits realized when individuals are free to stop hiding from the law and begin contributing to their families and society.

Of the 3,027 individuals who turned themselves in at the Atlantic City event, an estimated 73 percent had at least one warrant arising from municipal courts, including disorderly persons offenses, municipal ordinance violations or traffic violations. An estimated 15 percent had at least one Superior Court warrant, including criminal matters, or family court matters, including child support. An estimated 12 percent had no warrants. And 15 individuals were taken into custody. They were wanted for violent crimes, had a history of violent crime, or had warrants from other states whose authorities demanded extradition.

Fugitive Safe Surrender is not an amnesty program, but offers favorable consideration to those who voluntarily turn themselves in. It was made possible through a partnership by the state Office of the Attorney General, Rutgers University, the State Parole Board and a host of law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, county, municipal, and community-based and faith-based levels.