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This year, the program is being held Nov. 3-6 at a church in Somerset. And, yes, officials say they believe fugitives from North Jersey will make their way to First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens.
A criminal check will be run on those who show up before they’re brought to a nearby school, where temporary courtrooms will be set up.
Last year, more than 4,000 fugitives showed up at a safe location in Newark. This year, the central location is a beautiful church on Somerset Avenue.
First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens771 Somerset Street / Somerset
The program will be officially announced on Monday by a collection of law enforcemtn officials, including state Attorney General Paula T. Dow; State Parole Board Chairman James T. Plousis; Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan; Acting Somerset County Prosecutor A. Peter DeMarco, Jr. Somerset County Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano, Sr. Also attending will be the Rev. DeForest “Buster” Soaries, Jr. and Lori Scott Pickens, Director of Community Outreach for the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice
Volunteers are being sought to help the church: CLICK HERE to volunteer.
Safe Surrender has become a massive success nationwide. Cleveland last month set a record when a four-day initiative drew 7,431 fugitives.
The alternative, of course, is the prospect of a raid by U.S. marshals or county sheriff’s officers, any of which could lead to harm for someone. Thus the name of the program.
There are also long-term benefits of not having to use officers to pursue and capture those with outstanding warrants — some of which are for non-violent offenses, such as failing to pay parking tickets.
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