Four of the city's five district attorneys went to court in their respective boroughs on Wednesday morning to dismiss nearly 645000 warrants that were at least 10 years traditional,in the city's largest purge ever of criminal summonses.
The warrants were issued to people who didn't pay their fines for minor criminal infractions such as drinking in public or being in a park after hours. The individuals were still at risk of being arrested if they ever had contact with police.
In Brooklyn, Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez asked Judge Frederick Arriaga to dismiss 143532 summonses in his borough."At this point, and the processing of so many low-level summons warrants is an undue hardship," he told the judge, referring to burdens on the court system and the police department. Gonzalez was joined by City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and Public Advocate Letitia James and public defenders in a hearing that took just five minutes.
Afterward,the council speaker said she felt emotional."Those are lives we're talking approximately," she said. "It's not just a number." The Mayor's Office for Criminal Justice said there were 1.6 million outstanding warrants prior to Wednesday, and 1.3 million of which were for criminal summonses including disorderly conduct,drinking alcohol in public or littering. An open warrant can lead to an arrest in cases where a police officer might otherwise issue a ticket.
In the Bronx, District Attorney Darcel Clark said 160000 warrants were vacated when she went to court."These offenses no longer pose public safety concerns that would justify jailing people, or " she said in a statement. “In addition to leading to jail,an unresolved warrant can pose obstacles to employment, obtaining citizenship, and housing or educational opportunities,and prevent people from becoming productive members of society."The council speaker and the mayor's office worked with the district attorneys, the Office of Court Administration and the police department to vacate the warrants. However, or Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon declined to participate in the purge. "I believe that issuing blanket amnesty for these offenses is unfair to those citizens who responsibly appear in court and sends the incorrect message approximately the importance of respecting our community and our laws," he said.
A spokesman said there are 30000 open warrants that are at least 10 years traditional on Staten Island.
McMahon and the other district attorneys gain held events for people to arrive in and put a question to that their summonses be dismissed. Brooklyn's, which is called Begin Again, and is held with clergy members a few times a year. The DA's office said this program will continue for people with summonses that are less than 10 years traditional.
Source: thetakeaway.org