Better Family Life’s Amnesty Project was a big part of 2010 Family Week activities, drawing large crowds for the second consecutive year.
On Saturday, August 14 and Sunday, August 15, citizens were able to get warrants lifted and new court dates set for minor misdemeanors.
Last year the program had 32 participating municipalities and helped 12,000 individuals with minor traffic warrants. This year, 36 municipalities participated, 14,000 people were helped with, not only traffic warrants, but any minor misdemeanor warrant.
“The turnout was tremendous. At one point the line stretched from Belt almost to Skinker on Delmar,” said James Clark, vice president of community outreach for Better Family Life.
“We are very pleased also with the participation of law enforcement. All of the people could have been arrested on sight.”
Better Family Life first brought the Amnesty Project to the metropolitan area in 2000 and 2001. It returned in 2009 and was expanded this year.
“We believe we have a process that satisfies the citizens and the courts,” Clark said.
The removal of minor warrants allows citizens, who otherwise would not be employed because of a blemished record, to secure jobs.
Robert McLaughlin is one citizen who was helped by this year’s Amnesty Project. McLauglin had a traffic warrant in the City of Pine Lawn. Just one day after he received his amnesty voucher, he was pulled over while entering Pine Lawn and was let go.
“I had my paper work showing that I had gone through the amnesty program. Had it been a year or two earlier, I would have been singing the blues. I think the program is excellent,” McLaughlin said.
Citizens who attended the brief amnesty workshop and received an amnesty voucher should now visit their local municipality and present the amnesty voucher. After a $100 fee is paid, the warrant will be lifted and a new court date will be set.
Family Week is organized in conjunction with Better Family Life’s Peace in the Streets campaign.
“We stressed to the 14,000 participants that we want them to walk away with a commitment to nonviolence,” Clark said.
“The violence in our neighborhoods has to be addressed by all of us.”
