Open Warrants For Low Level Crimes Will Be Forgiven At Queens Event

QUEENS, NY -- Queens residents wanted for low level crimes can get their open warrants dropped at a "Second Chance" event this weekend.

The borough's district attorney Richard Brown will host the event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York, at 110-31 Merrick Blvd. in Jamaica. Attendees can resolve warrants for crimes like disorderly conduct, consuming alcohol in public and possession of marijuana, according to the DA's office.

HAving open warrants can affect people's lives, with public housing providers and employers often turning away people who have them, Queens Executive Assistant District Attorney Jesse Sligh said.

"This is a warrant forgiveness program," Sligh said. "We're trying to get people in and have those warrants vacated so that warrant won't be hanging over their head."

Attendees will meet with defense attorneys on site to evaluate their warrants, then appear before a judge. Some form of identification is required to participate. A resource fair at the church will follow at the end of the day.

This is the first time Queens has held an event like this. It was inspired by similar forgiveness in other boroughs, said Sligh. He expects the day to have a large turnout between those who've heard about it through word of mouth and the roughly 4,000 letters the DA's office sent out to people with warrants, telling them about it.

"These are the kinds of warrants an ordinary everyday New Yorker might get just living their daily life, and those are the people we're trying to help," Sligh said.

Lead photo via Patch.