Nearly 4,000 Individuals Wanted by NJ Law Enforcement Turn Themselves During Fugitive Safe Surrender

Jan. 6, 2011 - PRLog -- Nearly 4,000 individuals wanted by New Jersey law enforcement agencies for primarily non-violent felony and municipal warrants turned themselves in recently during Fugitive Safe Surrender-Central Jersey. The program is made possible in New Jersey through a partnership of the United States Marshals Service, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, and a contingent of non-profits such as Volunteer Lawyers for Justice's Newark Reentry Legal Services (ReLeSe). While not an amnesty program, Fugitive Safe Surrender does enable participants to receive favorable consideration from the court, which typically results in probation or reduced fines.

In 2005, the United States Marshals Service created Fugitive Safe Surrender shortly after a police officer in Cleveland, Ohio was killed while attempting to capture a fugitive wanted for a non-violent offense. Fugitive Safe Surrender seeks to remove the threat of potential danger to law enforcement, the fugitive's community and family as well as him or herself. In New Jersey, a total of 10,000 individuals have turned themselves in during the State's three Fugitive Safe Surrender events.

"Oftentimes, people live in a constant state of fear due to these outstanding warrants, which also prohibit them from getting jobs and contributing to their communities," said Gina DeVito, Esq., Managing Attorney of VLJ's ReLeSe and a volunteer criminal defense lawyer at the last two Fugitive Safe Surrender programs in New Jersey. "Fugitive Safe Surrender enables them to take responsibility for their past actions and move forward with their lives."

Established in 2001, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice has grown from a grass roots effort of 30 volunteer attorneys in Essex County to a state-wide not-for-profit with five staff attorneys and more than 1,500 volunteer attorneys aiding thousands of clients each year. VLJ's ReLeSe assists ex-offenders with civil legal issues serving as barriers to successful community reintegration. Through direct in-house representation and referrals to volunteer attorneys, ReLeSe assists clients with driver's license restoration, resolution of long out-standing municipal matters, modification of child support issues and expungement of criminal records.

Surrendering

Fugitive Safe Surrender-Central Jersey took place at the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, N.J. Upon arrival at the church, fugitives met with law enforcement officers, who quickly ran criminal background checks. After that, the fugitives were transported a few blocks away to the McKinley Community School in New Brunswick, which had been converted into a courthouse. Judges and lawyers such as DeVito worked with participants on resolving their warrants and outstanding matters. In addition to DeVito, a number of ReLeSe staff and volunteer attorneys were on hand to serve as defense attorneys for those individuals who surrendered at the event.

"Fugitive Safe Surrender has exceeded its goals in New Jersey," said James T. Plousis, the New Jersey parole board chairman, who is a former U.S. Marshal. "In a very significant way, what we have achieved continues to remove significant dangers for law enforcement and for the individuals who took the important step of turning themselves in to justice and beginning to live up to their obligations."

In addition to ReLeSe, VLJ's wide range of programs include free legal counsel and advice; educational seminars on various legal matters such as consumer law, bankruptcy, family law and special education; and direct representation for at-risk individuals facing critical civil legal issues.

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About Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ): Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) provides comprehensive legal services to economically-disadvantaged adults, children, and families in New Jersey to ensure fair and equal treatment within the legal system. Programs include free legal counsel and advice, educational seminars on various legal matters, and direct representation for at-risk individuals facing critical civil legal issues. Established in 2001, VLJ has grown from a grass roots effort of 30 volunteer attorneys in Essex County to a state-wide 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with five staff attorneys and more than 1,500 volunteer attorneys providing free legal services to thousands of clients each year.