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The program, which ends tomorrow, gives those wanted on non-violent warrants the opportunity to surrender safely, take responsibility — and, more importantly, get a break from a judge.
Fugitive Safe Surrender returns
That brings the total since New Jersey launched the program several years ago to more than 16,000 fugitives who’ve stopped looking over their shoulders, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said.
Eddie Restrepo, 33, of West New York, said he lived in fear for years that one day a pile of unpaid parking tickets would catch up to him.
He turned himself in Wednesday morning and, instead of paying thousands of dollars in fines, got off for only a few hundred, Hoffman said.
He then began volunteering for the program at the church.
“This really saved my life,” Restrepo said. “It was a load off my back.”
Here’s the deal: Only American citizens or legal residents of the U.S. are eligible. The focus is on non-violent criminal matters or municipal matters such as unpaid fines or child support.
Those wanted for violent crimes, or who have a violent criminal history, are much more likely to be taken into custody.
The last day of North Jersey Fugitive Safe Surrender runs tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church, 661 Montgomery Street, Jersey City.
MORE INFO: Fugitive Safe Surrender: Questions, answers
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