Daytona Beach, FL - Operation Safe Surrender will give people an opportunity to turn themselves in with minimal police involvement, and get favorable treatment as a result.
The operation is designed to give people with Volusia County warrants an opportunity to surrender themselves "no questions asked," according to DBPD Chief Mike Chitwood. The program will be held on April 12 from 10 AM to 7 PM at the Masters Domain Church, 511 Fremont Ave., Daytona Beach.
"This is not an 'I've got you' program," says Chitwood. He says people who turn themselves in will have "no contact whatsoever with law enforcement." Instead, people who turn themselves in will be greeted by church members and members of the Black Clergy Alliance. They will then speak with a public defender and/or state attorney who will discuss the case and bring it before Judge Schumann. According to Chitwood, in almost "90% of the cases that come before the judge," a decision is reached right there.
People can bring family members and children. Chitwood says child care will be provided for those participating in the program.
This operation has been held in the past with great success, according to Chitwood. "A few years ago we had 130 people who came in and only 7 folks went to jail," he said. Those 7 were charged with violent felonies so they had to go to jail to be held for trial, but Chitwood says they got "a decent bail" because of their participation in Operation Safe Surrender.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2016.
