HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 04-30 Ramsey County offers citizens a chance to clear up misdemeanor arrest warrants STAR TRIBUNE �c StarTribune
Ramsey County offers citizens a chance
to clear up misdemeanor arrest warrants
Article by:James Walsh
Star Tribune
April 30,2015-10:09 PM
A trip to a Ramsey County ice nnk on Saturtlay could save residents with arrest warrants some time in the cooler.
From 9 a.m.to 7 p.m.,judges,lawyers and sheriff's officials will be on hand at Aldnch Arena in Maplewood for the county's
frst-ever Warrant Resolution Event.People with a nonviolent misdemeanor Ramsey County arrest warrant can show up and
have their warrants resolved—without the Mp to jail that resWts in most warrant pickups.
In most cases,Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Bostrom said,those minor warrants will be wiped off the lawbreaker's records
with a scheduled court date,a fne or even forgiveness.
There are about 8,500 to 9,000 active warrants out in Ramsey County,the sheriff said.About half of those are for nonviolent
misdemeanors—unpaid parking tickets,disorderly conduct,petty theft.And hatf of those are more than four years old.
Those minor yet unresolvetl warrants can gum up the criminal justice system and lead to an unnecessarily costly and
embarrassing tnp lo jail for someone who did something fairry petty.
Each warrant is expected to take a few hours[o clear.Those who plan to attend should bnng a photo ID,contact information
for a person who can vouch for them and their warrant number.The sheriff's oKce is encouraging appointments by calling
651-266-9320,or people can just drop in.
Bostrom said he doesn't know how many of those responsible for the 4,500 outstanding misdemeanor warrants will stop by.
"It could be 10,it could be 1,000,"he said.Similar events elsewhere have proved successful.
The hope,Bostrom said,is that hundreds of people finalty take advantage and clear their record.
"We've tried to make it as easy as possible."
Anne Millerbend,a University of Minnesota student reporter on assignment for the Star Tribune,contributed to this story.
James Walsh•651-925-5041
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