Fugitive Safe Surrender

Baltimore, Maryland  – June 16-19, 2010

The development of Fugitive Safe Surrender in Baltimore was launched under the stewardship of Johnny Hughes, United States Marshal for Maryland. Marshal Hughes has worked with government, corporate, non-profit, and faith-based sector partners to lay the groundwork for a successful Fugitive Safe Surrender operation in Baltimore, Maryland. That four-day surrender period has been set for Wednesday, June 16, to Saturday, June 19, 2010. The doors will be open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day at the New Metropolitan Baptist Church located at 1501 McCulloh Street, in Baltimore.

Pastor Richard D. Dickens of New Metropolitan Baptist Church and the Reverend Dr. Frank Madison Reid, III of Bethel A.M.E. Church have agreed to serve as the faith-based leaders of Fugitive Safe Surrender-Baltimore. The turn-in site will be at New Metropolitan, and the courts are sitting across the street in the Bethel A.M.E. Outreach Center.

Over 25,000 people have surrendered in the 17 Fugitive Safe Surrender operations since its inception in August 2005, for an average of approximately 375 people a day. Baltimore is hosting the 18th Fugitive Safe Surrender operation nationwide, and the first in Maryland. Organizers are hopeful that this initiative, like the many that have preceded it around the country, will be successful and have a positive impact on the community.

This program is not for those who have warrants for child support, are juvenile offenders, have immigration issues, warrants from Baltimore County Circuit Court, or warrants from any jurisdiction outside of Baltimore City or Baltimore County. Children are not to be brought to the church.

There are no religious requirements, and a secular surrender site is available.

In addition to the Marshals Service, participating agencies include the Baltimore City Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore Mayor’s Office, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, the Office of the Public Defender, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, the District Court for Baltimore City, the Baltimore City Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, the Baltimore City District Court Clerk’s Office, the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Department, the Maryland State Police, the Office of the Baltimore City Council President, the Division of Pretrial Detention and Services, the Pretrial Release Services Program, the Division of Parole and Probation, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the District Court for Baltimore County.

Funding for FSS-Baltimore was provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention through the Byrne/JAG Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; the US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance; the US Marshals Service; and the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Individuals with warrants from Baltimore City and Baltimore County who wish to surrender, and their loved ones who wish to assist them, are encouraged to call the FSS-Baltimore hotlines at 311 (for those within the city) or 443-263-2220 (for those in the county).