(AKRON, Ohio)— Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that representatives with his office signed an agreement with 18 Summit County partners to hold the Attorney General’s Fugitive Safe Surrender Program on June 25, 26, 27, and 28 in Summit County. While it’s not an amnesty program, Fugitive Safe Surrender does give people with outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants a chance to resolve those issues in a church or other community-based setting.
“When people are looking over their shoulder every minute because they are a wanted fugitive, that can lead to unnecessary and often dangerous confrontations that put the fugitive, law enforcement, and even people out in the community in danger,” said Attorney General DeWine. “We hope this program – made possible thanks to our great partnerships with law enforcement, judges, as well as political, community, and religious leaders -- will have a very positive effect in Summit County.”
Local leaders signed a memorandum of understanding today at the same location, The House of the Lord in Akron, where the June program will be held. Those formalizing their commitment to the event today included Akron Mayor Donald Plusquellic, Akron Assistant Police Chief Charles Brown, Summit County Sheriff Steve Barry, Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh, Summit County Common Pleas Court Presiding Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands, Akron Municipal Court Presiding Judge Jerry Larson, and The House of the Lord Pastor Herman Matherson. Also in attendance were partners from Barberton and Stow Municipal Courts, as well the Summit County Domestic Relations Court.
There are 6,000 felony warrants in Summit County and 16,000 misdemeanor warrants in Akron, Barberton, and Stow. During Fugitive Safe Surrender, judges give careful consideration to those who voluntarily turn themselves in. Fugitives are strongly encouraged to do so, since following the Fugitive Safe Surrender Summit County event, local law enforcement will do a warrant sweep.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has conducted the Fugitive Safe Surrender Program in Ohio since 2011. The Summit County event will be the Ohio Attorney General’s fifth Fugitive Safe Surrender (FSS) event. Previous events were in Richland, Columbiana, Trumbull, and Mahoning counties. Prior to 2011, the US Marshals Service managed the program and conducted Ohio FSS events in 2005 (Cuyahoga County), 2007 (Summit County), 2009 (Summit County), and 2010 (Cuyahoga County).
On June 25, 26, 27, and 28, people with outstanding misdemeanor and low-level felony warrants from Summit County can arrive between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., without registering in advance, at the FSS location: The House of the Lord, 1650 Diagonal Road, Akron, OH, 44320. Anyone with questions can call the Ohio Attorney General’s Fugitive Safe Surrender Hotline at 877-647-8773.
-30-
Media Contacts:
Lisa Hackley: 614-466-3840
Eve Mueller: 614-466-3840