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Hennepin County Misdemeanor Warrant Forgiveness Day

Saturday, May 20, 2017    10:00am-4:00pm

Sabathani Community Center
310 East 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 
Misdemeanor Warrant Forgiveness Day logo

Thanks to participants and volunteers!

Thanks to everyone who made Warrant Day a success, especially our criminal justice partners and community members from the ACLU and NAACP!
 

News coverage of the event:

    Warrant day poster

Pre-registration is now closed, but interested participants can still walk-in to the event without being registered.

What is this event?

This event is an opportunity for people with a misdemeanor warrant (see who is eligible below) to clear their warrant without being arrested. You also have the opportunity to resolve your case after meeting with a public defender and a prosecutor. Settlements may include doing community service work at or near the event, receiving time to pay a fine, or scheduling a court date in the future to handle your case. If you participate in this event, your warrant will be cleared or resolved before you leave.

 

Who is eligible for this event?

People with the following charges may not participate in this event and should not attend:
  • Any felony charges
  • Any domestic charges
  • Any juvenile court cases
  • Any DWI cases
If you have one of these ineligible charges/cases, you may contact the Warrant Office at (612) 348-2000.

Call Court Administration at (612) 348-2040 to find out if you have a warrant or to find out if you qualify for this event. (M-F 8:00am-4:15pm)

 

How long will it take and what should I expect?

It may take up to an hour for you to meet with an attorney and to see the judge. After that, if you accept community service, it may take another two to four hours to complete your work. Please plan for that. You may be doing work outdoors, so please dress for that.



May I attend Warrant Resolution Day even if my warrant is NOT from Hennepin County?

No. If you have a warrant from a different county, you will have to resolve it through that county. To contact the county court clerk’s office there, visit: www.mncourts.gov/Find-Courts.aspx.



Will there be attorneys on-site to assist me?

Yes. Regardless of the circumstances of the warrant, the Public Defender's Office will have attorneys present at Sabathani to explain the process and provide counsel to attendees as their warrant is resolved.

 

I do not have a driver's license. What sort of ID do I need to bring?

You can bring any form of ID that you have - Social Security card, birth certificate, Medicare/Medicaid card, etc. If you do not have any ID, you may still participate in the Misdemeanor Warrant Forgiveness Day.

If your license is suspended or revoked, or you do not have one, you can meet with staff from Driver & Vehicle Services and/or the Driver Diversion Program to talk about what you need to do to get your license.



Do I have to be there at 10:00 am, or can I come any time during the day?

The Warrant Forgiveness Day will operate from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You are welcome anytime during those hours. You can also register online or by calling (612) 348-2040.

 

What happens if I don't participate in the Warrant Resolution Day?

Individuals with an active arrest warrant can always turn themselves in 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the Adult Detention Center "Jail" (401 South 4th Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota) or at any police station/department.

 

Other important information:

  • Spanish and Somali interpreters will be on site. We will do our best to make any accommodation and will order an interpreter for a future court hearing if necessary.
  • Representatives from DVS (Driver and Vehicle Services) "the DMV," will be there to discuss driver’s license requirements. Representatives from the Driver Diversion Program can discuss how to get your license to a valid status.
  • Sabathani is a violence free building. Fighting, threats, and weapons are strictly prohibited. Participants will be screened for weapons.

May 19, 2017:

Warrant Forgiveness Day:  This is not a trap

"This is not a setup for mass arrest," said Jana Kooren, public education and communications director for the Minnesota ACLU, one of the groups organizing the event. Go to the Star Tribune story.

Pre-registration is now closed, but interested participants can still walk-in to the event without being registered.


May 17, 2017 News Release:

Hennepin County Justice Partners to Hold “Warrant Forgiveness Day” in Minneapolis on May 20
On Saturday, May 20, 2017, the Hennepin County criminal justice community is sponsoring Warrant Forgiveness Day at the Sabathani Community Center, 310 East 38th Street, Minneapolis.  The event will offer anyone with an outstanding misdemeanor Hennepin County arrest warrant an opportunity to meet with justice system officials and take steps to resolve their cases.  Walk-ins and appointments are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Participants in this one-day event have the opportunity to resolve their cases after meeting with a public defender and a prosecutor. Settlements for eligible misdemeanor warrants, without the risk of being arrested, may include: 

  • doing community service work at or near the event,
  • getting time to pay a fine, or
  • scheduling a court date in the future to handle or dispute the case.

By participating in this event, warrants will be cleared or resolved on the same day.

Assistant Chief Judge and Criminal Presiding Judge Toddrick Barnette explained, “This event is a collaboration of Hennepin criminal justice partners and community organizations.  The event, in conjunction with other criminal justice initiatives, is making changes to lessen the social and personal impact on individuals who don’t pose a public safety risk, but missed a court date for a low level misdemeanor offense.  It costs about $132 a day to keep someone at the jail.  We know that being detained in jail can have a negative impact on childcare, housing, and employment.  This event will save taxpayers money by allowing people who pose no risk to public safety to clear a warrant without being detained.  I think taxpayers and participants in this event will appreciate the partnership between the community and the criminal justice partners.”  

Those interested in the event may call Hennepin County District Court at (612) 348-2040 to verify their warrant status and to learn more about the event.  

Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, 4th District, said, “This is a great opportunity for people to clear their record and move forward. I encourage people to take advantage of this chance.”

In addition to resolving warrants, a resource fair featuring representatives from Catholic Charities, Amicus, the American Indian Center, the Expungement Clinic, the Legal Rights Center, MN Dept. of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services (DPS-DVS), the Driver Diversion Program, probation, and others will provide help to participants with other concerns.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Minneapolis Criminal Justice Co-Chair Raj Setheraju commented, “The forgiveness project allows us as a relational community to move people one step closer to the beloved nation Dr. King invoked in his work and wisdom.”

The event is a collaboration between the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, Driver Diversion Program/Diversion Solutions, Hennepin County District Court, the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office, the Hennepin Suburban Prosecutors Group, the Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office, DPS-DVS, Sabathani Community Center, and the United Way.

May 10, 2017

Ten days until the warrant event. Help us advertise using this Facebook Post! 

Warrant Day Poster

May 2, 2017: Interpreters at Warrant Event

There will be Spanish, Somali, and Hmong interpreters on site to help translate. Arrangements can also be made for other languages. The event poster is now available in Hmong.


April 29, 2017: Translated Posters Added

Spanish and Somali posters have been added to the marketing materials section.


April 11, 2017: Registration Open 

Registration for the event has been launched! Register today to make your case go faster on the day of the event.
Sabathani Community Center
310 East 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55409
(612) 821-2300

Sabathani is in south Minneapolis in the Bryant Central neighborhood, three blocks southeast of Highway 35W and the 35th/36th Street exit. Look for the tall, brick chimney of a 3-story former junior high school next to Fire station 17 on 38th Street.

Map to Sabathani Community Center

Driving From Downtown Minneapolis or from the North
Go south on Hwy 35W to the 35th/ 36th Street Exit. Stay on the freeway frontage road (Stevens Avenue) to 38th Street. Turn left/east onto 38th Street. Go two blocks east of the freeway to 3rd Avenue South. Sabathani is on the corner of 38th Street and 3rd Avenue.

Driving From the South
Go north on Hwy 35W to the 46th Street exit. Stay on the freeway frontage road (2nd Avenue South) to 38th Street. Turn right/east onto 38th Street. Go two blocks east of the freeway to 3rd Avenue South. Sabathani is on the corner of 38th Street and 3rd Avenue.

Parking
Off-street parking is on the east side of the building. Parking may be limited. Please consider car-pooling or Metro Transit.

Accessibility
Accessibility parking and a ramp into the building are on the east side of the building by the parking lot entrance nearest 38th Street. The building elevator is along the east hallway.

Bus Transportation
The Route 23 bus (with connections from Lake Calhoun / Hennepin & Lake Street) travels along 38th Street and stops in front of Sabathani.
The Route 9 bus (with connections from Marshall Street-St. Paul to Lake Street-Mpls.)
Travels along 4th Avenue and stops at 38th Street, ½ block away.
(To plan your bus connections, please call Metro Transit at 612-373-3333.)