In the spirit of the Season, SCSO is announcing a misdemeanor warrant amnesty week to begin on 12-3-18. The amnesty period will run through 12-7-18. The week will give citizens with active misdemeanor warrants an opportunity to resolve their cases without going to jail. Active warrants can result in arrest if the citizen encounters law enforcement. They will be taken to jail.
There are currently over 20,000 active warrants in Sebastian County. Of this number around 70 percent are of a misdemeanor classification.
The following warrant types qualify for the Amnesty Program:
-Failure to pay court-ordered fines or a delinquent payment plan
-Failure to answer traffic summons
-Failure to appear in court on a qualifying offense and in need of a new court date
If someone has a warrant which meets these criteria they are to go in person to the District Court Offices in either Fort Smith or Greenwood and speak with the Court. Phone calls will not work for the program. You must appear in person. A $20 amnesty fee will be applicable in order to resolve the warrant. The fee is will go to the District Court. Fines owed will still be applicable, but payment options are available.
Last year around 500 citizens took advantage of the program.