Friday, June 2, 2006 Cleveland, OH--U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott and pastor C.J. Matthews and government and city officials announced yesterday that the government is giving $16 million to make the program that was started in Cleveland national allowing fugitives to surrender safely. Some of the money will go to Akron, OH. This program will allow the fugitive to turn themselves in at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church. The Plain DealerWASHINGTON, D. C. - U.S. Sen.
When the program was first launched in 2005, Mt. Sinai was transformed into a makeshift courthouse. People turned themselves in and were fingerprinted and processed. They consulted with public defenders and had hearings before judges in the church library. Some were sent to jail, others had charges dropped. Some were given later court dates. When it was over, 842 people voluntarily surrendered.
Brown, a Cleveland Democrat, on Tuesday joined with North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, to introduce a bill called the“Fugitive Safe Surrender is a national success story that started right here in Ohio. It’s a prime example of how law enforcement officials can work together with community leaders to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone,” said a statement from Brown.
“This is an opportunity to bridge divides, to get out of partisan or ideological corners, and actually make policing work better and make our towns and neighborhoods safer,” said a statement from Brown.