Outstanding Warrants in Jacksonville Cleared Up

The court system in Jacksonville is overcrowded, like much of the criminal justice system in the United States. About 150 to 200 people are arrested in Jacksonville each day for crimes ranging from petty theft to DUI to murder. In an attempt to lessen the burden on our system, the Fourth Judicial Court (the court in Duval County) hosted “Amnesty Day” this past Saturday. According to the article in the Florida Times Union, the state attorney’s office, judges, and court staff mailed letters to people who had outstanding warrants in Jacksonville for non-violent misdemeanor crimes. Such crimes included possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, petty theft, and disorderly intoxication. People could come to court and handle their Jacksonville criminal cases without having to turn themselves in on the warrant. Court was held in an auditorium downtown and cases were either dropped or disposed of without any jail time.

If you have an outstanding warrant or capias in Jacksonville, you are subject to being arrested at any time. Even if you are pulled over for a traffic infraction, when the officer runs your name, you will be arrested on the warrant or capias. You should contact a Jacksonville Warrant Attorney as soon as possible to discuss your options. A Jacksonville Criminal Lawyer may be able to get you on the judge’s calendar to address your case without you being arrested. A Duval County Criminal Attorney could possibly take care of the case without you even being present. Warrants in Jacksonville are issued for all kinds of reasons. If you are issued a Notice to Appear in Jacksonville and never make a court date, a capias will be issued for you arrest. If you are accused of a crime in Jacksonville and the state attorney’s office thinks you committed the crime, they can ask a Jacksonville judge to sign an arrest warrant. If you have a pending criminal case and fail to appear in court, the judge will most likely issue a warrant for your arrest.