NJ fugitives asked to turn themselves in
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
By: Fit Staff
mcampbell@whyy.org
By: Phil Gregory
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Authorities are hoping thousands of fugitives will turn themselves in during a special program in Newark next month.
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The Fugitive Safe Surrender program allows people with outstanding warrants to show up at Bethany Baptist Church in Newark between November 4th and 7th to have their cases heard or get a court date. James Plousis the U.S. Marshal for New Jersey, says more than 2,000 fugitives turned themselves in last year in a similar program in Camden.
Plousis: The vast majority were misdemeanor violations but we did have some people that surrendered for major offenses, escape from state prison, major drug dealers. So this is open to anybody who wants to get a second chance in the criminal justice system and a second chance at a life.
Plousis says the program can improve public safety by reducing the need for police chases of wanted criminals. And he says not having to search for those fugitives also can reduce the costs of law enforcement.