Do you or someone you know have an outstanding summons warrant? Now is your chance to get them cleared.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown is co-sponsoring the “Second Chance Summons Warrants Forgiveness” event in Jamaica on Saturday, Oct. 21, where people can come and get their warrants cleared with help from the Office of Court Administration and defense attorneys.
Some of the warrants that will be accepted include:
- Drinking alcohol in public (open container);
- Disorderly conduct;
- Public urination;
- Being in a park after closing;
- Unlawful possession of marijuana;
- Unleashed dog; and many more.
Warrants that will not be addressed include:
- Felony misdemeanor;
- Vehicle and traffic law violations;
- Building/fire code violations;
- Labor law violations;
- Failure to pay fine or complete community service after pleading guilty to summons; and more.
The Second Chance event will take place on Oct. 21 at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York, located at 110-31 Merrick Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“An unanswered warrant can result in arrest and, in some instances, jeopardize employment and housing opportunities,” Brown said. “By participating in this event, individuals are offered a clean start by having their summonses adjudicated and ultimately dismissed.”
Participants must bring with them valid, state-issued photo identification, even if they do not physically have their summons or if they have been arrested multiple times for summons related to warrants on their records. However, the court will only hear summonses with unresolved warrants dated before Oct. 20, 2017.
They will receive free legal assistance from the Legal Aid Society, the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral Lawyers Guild, and other volunteer attorneys will be onsite and can provide council as to an individual’s best course of legal action.
Undocumented immigrants are also welcome to attend the event to resolve their low-level summons warrants.
Additional on-site resources that will be available during the Second Chance event include access to job training, healthcare, education, legal assistance, and general social services.
For more information on the types of summonses with unresolved warrants will be taken at the event, and other important questions related to the Second Chance event, visit www.queensda.org.
