MINNEAPOLIS — Editor's Note: The video above first aired on Oct. 30, 2023.
The court dockets are a bit lighter and 57 people once wanted in Hennepin County are breathing easier following the fourth judicial district's Warrant Resolution Day.
On May 3 participating Hennepin County Judges cleared 120 active warrants that were issued on 57 different people involved in the court system. Warrants are most often issued when an individual misses a court date or violates a condition of their probation, and the subject of that warrant can be arrested and held while their case gets back on track.
Chief Judge Kerry Meyer says Warrant Resolution Day is a win-win, reducing the load on an already-overtaxed judicial system while protecting an individual from being arrested and encountering additional problems, like being able to get a job or rent an apartment.
“Resolving a warrant can provide relief to a defendant while also helping reduce the number of cases pending before the court,” said Judge Kerry Meyer.
The fourth judicial district says 60 percent of the warrants were resolved on May 3 by simply setting a new court day, while the other 40 percent were resolved completely with no future requirements. One woman who no longer has an active warrant said she is looking forward to traveling without fear of being arrested, while another said he can now rent a better apartment without fear of a security screen revealing an active warrant.
"By working with people to resolve their warrants, in a supportive and non-punitive environment, we put people at ease, prevent unnecessary interactions with law enforcement, and promote safety and well-being for the entire community,” said Minnesota Freedom Fund deputy executive director Jana Kooren.
Those who attended the event were also able to learn about the status of their driver's license, child support status and the possibility of having a criminal record permanently sealed.
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist: