The Forest Park Municipal Court has announced a new initiative to help people with outstanding warrants and citations from 2021 to present. The Warrant Amnesty Program, which will run from February 1 to June 30, aims to provide a supportive and structured way for individuals to resolve their legal issues without facing arrest or additional penalties.
What is the Warrant Amnesty Program?
The Warrant Amnesty Program is a limited-time opportunity for individuals who have open warrants and/or citations from 2021 to present to clear their records and avoid further consequences. The program applies to traffic tickets and other misdemeanor violations issued by the Forest Park Police Department or the Forest Park Code Enforcement Department.
According to the Forest Park Municipal Court, the program offers the following benefits:
- Warrants will be cleared and contempt fees for failure to appear will be waived once the fees are paid in full.
- If a defendant cannot pay the cost of the citation, they will be allowed to pay the failure-to-appear fees and sign up for a new court date to have their cases placed back on the court calendar.
- For offenses that require mandatory court appearance, defendants are allowed to pay the fine, the warrant will be recalled and defendants must sign for a new court date.
- The program does not apply to outstanding probation warrants.
How to Participate in the Program?
Individuals who are interested in taking advantage of the program are encouraged to visit the Forest Park Municipal Court (320 Cash Memorial Blvd.) in person on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Wednesdays are reserved for court sessions only).
Acceptable forms of payment include cash, money order, cashier checks and credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and Discover Card only). Personal checks will not be accepted.
For more information about the program, contact the Forest Park Municipal Court at (404) 366-4720 or email Nacori Chambers, Court Clerk, at nchambers@forestparkga.gov.
Why is the Program Important?
The Forest Park Municipal Court stated that the program is designed to help individuals who want to get back on track and have their municipal cases resolved in a friendly and convenient manner. The court also hopes that the program will reduce the number of outstanding warrants and citations, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the court system.
“Navigating the judicial system can become a challenge, especially when facing outstanding legal issues or even the possibility of arrest,” said Forest Park Court Administrator Dorothy Roper-Jackson. “By offering this community-based program, the court is looking to work with those who simply want to get back on track and have their municipal cases resolved. Individuals may even qualify to have their fines reduced, so it is imperative that people take advantage of the program.”
The program is also supported by the Arnall Family Foundation, which is a philanthropic organization that works to improve the lives of children and families in Georgia. The foundation has funded several initiatives to reform the municipal court system and provide alternatives to incarceration for low-level offenders.
The foundation stated that the program targets those with an outstanding warrant for an unpaid “class ‘a’” offense ticket issued on or before June 30, 2021. By participating in the program, individuals can settle the penalty for a cost equivalent to what would be charged if the ticket had been paid on time, without any risk of being arrested or sent to jail.
The foundation also noted that the program is part of a larger effort to address the issue of excessive fines and fees that disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities, and create barriers to economic and social mobility.
“We believe that everyone deserves a fair and equal opportunity to access justice and achieve their full potential,” said the foundation. “We are proud to partner with the Forest Park Municipal Court and other stakeholders to offer this program, which will help people clear their records, restore their dignity, and move forward with their lives.”