FORGIVING PEOPLE WHO MISSED THEIR COURT DATE
This excellent question was put to me: What can we do to help? That's a question every person proposing reform for any issue must consider and develop a response. What then are we asking from our congregants and audience when we propose a Warrant Forgiveness project that provides people with safe passage to and from court when they voluntarily surrender on a misdemeanor warrant?
No magic formula exists to persuade the decision-makers, I.E. the judiciary, to modify the standard procedure, which requires defendants to appear before a judge and face the risk of incarceration before trial. The sad reality is most people with warrants fear judges. They have seen too many order an unaffordable bail and then spend the next month and longer at Central Booking jail. Warrant Forgiveness permits people to return to court to face their charges and brings them before a judge at the next court appearance - after the warrants have been lifted.
We have received positive support from the police, prosecution, corrections, public defenders and the faith-based community. Indeed, the judges recently responded when the faith-based community joined in a powerful 600-word letter to the Baltimore Sun. I expect that the public arena remains the best way to mobilize support and to persuade the Maryland District Court Judiciary to lend its approval, too. In my opinion, that remains our best option and strategy.
We certainly will encourage more ideas at our February 21st event but I would encourage our audience to demonstrate its support in a variety of ways. They include people writing letters sent to judicial officials; submitting letters-to-the-editor and op-ed articles (I plan to write); reaching out to organizations and making Warrant Forgiveness an issue of the highest priority; engaging in conversations and educating friends, colleagues and others about the effort; and various endeavors to gain public support, such as taking advantage of call-in programs and community events. I hope to reach out to the inter-religious community and speak to congregants.
That's why our February 21st event and welcoming of Reverend Todd Yeary is so important. We must do everything possible to attract a broad-based audience and provide a welcoming greeting. Reverend Todd is one of the outstanding leaders in the African-American and Maryland community and garners tremendous respect from those who have heard him speak. Our first item of business, then, requires that each of us invite our friends and family and fill Kol HaLev on February 21st.
Best to you all,
Doug Colbert
