Local courts, public defenders offer options to people looking to clear warrants

Here’s your chance to come clean — and hopefully stay out of jail.

Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court is offering people an opportunity to clear outstanding misdemeanor warrants, while public defenders will be hosting warrant workshops for those needing guidance.

The Home for the Holidays — Virtual Safe Surrender event will run through November, giving those with misdemeanor warrants the chance to turn themselves in “in exchange for favorable consideration by the court.”

“The last thing people want during the holiday season is to unnecessarily spend time in jail for low-level warrants that could have easily been addressed,” Metro Court Chief Judge Joshua J. Sánchez in a statement. “We are all a part of this community, and Safe Surrender is one way the court safely brings people back into the system while alleviating the costly and sometimes dangerous job of arresting people with active warrants.”

Metro Court spokeswoman Camille Baca said that during a similar event in April, judges cleared 232 active warrants and collected $2,561 in related fees for the state.

She said those who think they may have an outstanding misdemeanor warrant can verify that with the court by calling 505-841-8151 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“Not all warrants are eligible for Safe Surrender,” Baca said. “People must call to check.”

She said, if eligible, people will be given a time for a virtual hearing before a judge to address the warrant. Participants have to either have Zoom downloaded on their device or can use computers at the Downtown courthouse.

Baca said for those who need an attorney and don’t have one, the state Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD) can help them.

Warrant workshops

Separately, the Law Offices of the Public Defender is also hosting three warrant workshops in December.

Maggie Shepard, an LOPD spokeswoman, called the workshops “an alternative to police roundups and court safe-surrender programs.” The workshops will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 6, 11 and 19 at 505 Marquette NW in Albuquerque.

“They offer a one-stop shop to resolve or get cases back on track,” Shepard said.

She said the project is in collaboration with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office and 2nd Judicial District Court, which are providing staff for the workshops. She said workshops will assist walk-in clients in addressing low-level felonies in nonviolent cases.

“We hope clients who are afraid of being arrested in the community or are afraid of coming to a courthouse will feel safer meeting with us in the public defender office and will benefit, along with our community, from getting their warrant taken care of,” Chief Public Defender Ben Baur said.

Anyone who wants to know if their case qualifies for the workshop can call LOPD at 505-219-2868 or walk in during the workshop hours.