Question for those who know law procedure

[Bucklion]

So I read that Cuyahoga County (and many other counties) are having a "Fugitive Safe Surrender" event where wanted people with non-violent arrest warrants can turn themselves in under safe conditions and be granted some sort of leniency for cooperating over a 4 day period. After that, they go out with Federal Marshals and sweep for everyone who didn't turn themselves in voluntarily.

I think this is a great idea, but then I got to thinking...what happens when an arrest warrant is issued for a non-violent crime? Do the police always go to the last know address looking for the person? So therefore would the person always be told they are wanted? I guess what I am curious about is...could people be waling around with an arrest warrant and not actually know it? It would suck if Federal Marshals broke down their door and hauled them away when they didn't even know they were in trouble.

 

[AKAK]

If the US Marshals are looking for them, they probably missed a court date, skipped out on bail, that kind of thing.

 

[Deety]

So I read that Cuyahoga County (and many other counties) are having a "Fugitive Safe Surrender" event where wanted people with non-violent arrest warrants can turn themselves in under safe conditions and be granted some sort of leniency for cooperating over a 4 day period. After that, they go out with Federal Marshals and sweep for everyone who didn't turn themselves in voluntarily.

I think this is a great idea, but then I got to thinking...what happens when an arrest warrant is issued for a non-violent crime? Do the police always go to the last know address looking for the person? So therefore would the person always be told they are wanted? I guess what I am curious about is...could people be waling around with an arrest warrant and not actually know it? It would suck if Federal Marshals broke down their door and hauled them away when they didn't even know they were in trouble.

What did you do?

 

[Dryden]

I guess what I am curious about is...could people be waling around with an arrest warrant and not actually know it? It would suck if Federal Marshals broke down their door and hauled them away when they didn't even know they were in trouble.

I'm guessing no. The moment your name appears on a court document, you start getting mail from the ambulance chasers. I'd hope the 15 offers you receive every week offering legal representation would tip you off.

 

[Gatorubet]

I'm guessing no. The moment your name appears on a court document, you start getting mail from the ambulance chasers. I'd hope the 15 offers you receive every week offering legal representation would tip you off.

Interesting. Not our experience here. I know that the bankruptcy guys will send solicitation stuff to addresses listed in foreclosures, but I have not heard of lawyers sending stuff to potential criminal clients.....which would make them Paddy Wagon chasers, not ambulance chasers, would it not???

 

[kinch]

Interesting. Not our experience here. I know that the bankruptcy guys will send solicitation stuff to addresses listed in foreclosures, but I have not heard of lawyers sending stuff to potential criminal clients.....which would make them Paddy Wagon chasers, not ambulance chasers, would it not???

I received one mailing this way regarding an alleged assault. :)

 

[Bucklion]

What did you do?

Was waiting for that...I don't even live in Cuyahoga County...was just wondering about it from a legal standpoint. I read about there being "millions" of outstanding warrants in the USA, and I just find it hard to believe there are that many people who can successfully evade law enforcement.

 

[ScriptOhio]

What did you do?

I'll go a bit farther:

What did you do?

Is there a reward on you?

And if so, where do you live?

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

First - the cops cannot assure you any leniency, the prosecution can. The cops can tell the prosecutor, "Hey, this guy was very cooperative, we think you should go easy on him" but the prosecutor is not obligated to do so.

Second - this seems to me to be an example of getting people to do the cop's job. "Hey, come on down, turn yourself in and you'll get a cookie and a balloon!"

To answer your questions - no. Usually the way they end up finding someone with a non violent warrant pending against them is they pull the guy over for some other traffic violation. If they actually went "looking to the last address" we wouldn't have 1,000s of outstanding warrants.

Lots of people probably have warrants and don't know it. Got a traffic ticket, forgot about it. Hearing comes (most of us know that as the date you mail your check to avoid having to fuck around with a court date), warrant issues. But, they did indeed have notice of the hearing at some point.

If they're sending federal marshalls to deal with the sort of violations you're talking about, it's more likely they're trying get other jurisdictions their fines and fees. That is to say, if I don't pay a traffic ticket in Illinois, I'm a "fugitive" from Illinois. Not sure why Cleveland would care, except that if they pull me over for speeding and run my name, they might (depending on the search they run) find I've got a warrant in Illinois. Now they've got to hold me. Pain in the ass... for them... for you...

Just my guess....

Also, Gator, it's like that here too. I don't know of any criminal defense lawyer who solicits business from criminals. The best they can do is get on the court appointment list. I think, though I don't worry about it since it's not my area of practice, that it's actually an ethical violation to solicit specific clients like that....

 

[Saw31]

"Hey, come on down, turn yourself in and you'll get a cookie and a balloon!"

Cookies and a balloon? I'm sooo there!

 

[Gatorubet]

Cookies and a balloon? I'm sooo there!

Geeze....my immediate thought was and a ballon???!!! They had me at cookie.

 

[ScriptOhio]

that it's actually an ethical violation to solicit specific clients like that....