Pueblo warrant forgiveness day will let offenders get 'back on track' in criminal cases
The 10th Judicial District will hold a warrant forgiveness day Saturday, allowing offenders to clear warrants without being arrested and get back on track in their cases, according to the Colorado Judicial Department.
The event at the Dennis Maes Judicial Building, located at 501 N. Elizabeth Street, will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with defense attorneys available to discuss cases.
"At its most basic level, warrant forgiveness day represents an opportunity to make our community safer," said Laura Snyder, court executive for the 10th Judicial District. "Individuals who have a warrant might be inclined to fly under the radar or go into the shadows. They may be consciously staying away from authorities and court proceedings. They shouldn’t be. This is their opportunity to clear their warrant, resolve their case and get back on track."
Participants in the event include the 10th Judicial District’s courts and probation department, the Office of the State Public Defender, the 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, and Recovery Monitoring Solutions.
Various community vendors will also be available, including Jail Based Behavioral Services, Friendly Harbor Pueblo, Gateway to Success, Crossroads, the Pueblo Department of Health and Environment, the Colorado Department of Human Services, and Pueblo Workforce, according to a flyer obtained by the Chieftain.
Along with warrant forgiveness, the health department will also be onsite with a mobile unit to do rapid testing for HIV and syphilis, according to court officials.
No arrests will be made of people seeking to clear outstanding warrants for eligible offenses.
Offenses that are eligible for warrant clearance include some misdemeanors; traffic charges, such as first or second DUI offenses; petty drug charges; Class 1 drug misdemeanor charges; some Class 4, 5, and 6 felonies, including but not limited to aggravated motor vehicle theft under $2,000, criminal mischief under $2,000, and fraud by check under $2,000; as well as charges for failure to register as a sex offender.
Ineligible offenses include any warrants issued from outside of Pueblo County, domestic violence misdemeanors and felonies, any case under the Victim Rights Act, careless driving causing death or injury, third or subsequent DUIs, weapons charges, felony eluding, arson, sex offenses other than failure to register, and Class 1 through 3 felonies.
During the 10th Judicial District’s first warrant forgiveness day in May 2023, the district had approximately 175 cases called on the record, Snyder said.
"These are defendants coming through the Courthouse doors that arguably would not have come in, but for warrant forgiveness day," Snyder said. "This avoided the more lengthy and costly traditional resolution of these cases through an arrest and an in-custody court appearance — costs to our community, law enforcement, the jail, and the courts."
To verify eligibility for warrant clearance or get answers to other questions about the event, email warrantforgiveness.pueblo@coloradodefenders.us.
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This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: What to know about Pueblo's upcoming warrant forgiveness day
