Contact: Anita Alexander
(718) 388-3900  ext. 46

Anita@projectsafesurrender.org

Brooklyn clergy will be partnering with the Brooklyn District Attorneys’ Office, New York State Office of Court Administration, the Legal Aid Society and the NYC Police Department to implement Project Safe Surrender on March 29 and 30, 2013 from
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  
 

What is Project Safe Surrender?

Project Safe Surrender (PSS) is a pilot community program that helps individuals resolve summons/warrants.  An added benefit of this program is that it also helps individuals re-enter society by connecting them with vital social assistance in the areas of health, housing, employment, employment training and education. 

This program was inspired by a successful United States Marshall’s initiative in 2006 called “Fugitive Safe Surrender” in which 14 cities participated and over 40,000 people surrendered voluntarily.

Brooklyn New York borrowed from the “Fugitive Safe Surrender” initiative and created their own program strictly for residents of Brooklyn called “Project Safe Surrender”.  Brooklyn clergy, partnering with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Office of Court Administration, the Legal Aid Society and the New York City Police Department offer the opportunity for individuals with warrants/summons to turn themselves in to clergy and law enforcement and to have their warrants/summons lifted and their cases adjudicated in a safe environment.  This is not a pardon; but rather a solution that is favorable.

On March 29 and 30, 2013 Project Safe Surrender will open its doors at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church for people who have open warrants/summons for the following charges:
 

·         Unlawful possession of Alcohol under age 21

·         Consumption of Alcohol in Public

·         Aggressive Solicitation

·         Unlawful possession of handcuffs

·         Littering

·         Riding a bicycle on the sidewalk

·         Making unreasonable noise

·         Animal nuisance

·         Failure to have a dog license

·         Unleashed dog

·         Spitting

·         Trespassing

·         Disorderly conduct

·         Loitering

·         Unlawfully in a park after hours

·         Failure to comply with posted signs in park

·         Marijuana possession  

·         Smoking marijuana  

  Hotline to District Attorney's Office (718) 250-3888

PROJECT SAFE SURRENDER STATISTICS

99% of participants had their warrants resolved
More than 50% of participants were from the Bed Stuy and Brownsville neighborhoods
82% of participants were male
The median age of participants is 38

CLICK HERE FOR MORE STATISTICS