Church Offers Safe Surrender For People With Warrants

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female judge robe 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. Pastor Derrick R. Harris of the Masters Domain Church hopes that the program will allow them to "help individuals to get their lives back on the right path and become productive citizens." The program will be held on April 12 from 10 AM to 7 PM at the Masters Domain Church, 511 Fremont Ave., Daytona Beach. "I really hope that people understand that this is not a 'got ya' program," said Pastor Harris. According to Chitwood, 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. Pastor Harris 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. op safe surrender

(Courtesy Master's Domain Church of God in Christ)

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