Photo: Photo: NEO Violent Fugitive Task Force; illustration: Jake Underwood
Cleveland, Ohio– The U.S. Marshals Service and the United Pastors in Mission have partnered to launch the Fugitive Safe Surrender Hotline, which will be operational in Cuyahoga County during January and February 2023.
The Hotline is open for persons with active felony warrants in Cuyahoga County who want to make arrangements to surrender and deal with their outstanding warrants peacefully.
The Hotline number is 877-FSS-USMS.
The Fugitive Safe Surrender Hotline is an extension of the highly successful Fugitive Safe Surrender program, which originated in Cleveland in 2005. Hundreds of fugitives peacefully surrendered in person at a neutral location during this program. This program was replicated in cities across the U.S. with similar success, and more than 75,000 fugitives have surrendered nationally through this program. The FSS Hotline will continue to build on this success by allowing those with felony warrants to make arrangements to surrender peacefully with one phone call.
“The goal of Safe Surrender is to reduce the risk to law enforcement officers who pursue fugitives, to the neighborhoods in which they hide, and to the fugitives themselves. This Hotline gives those who are wanted the opportunity to peacefully surrender and take their first steps toward a second chance,” said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott, who is one of the creators of the FSS program.
Reverend Dr. C. Jay Matthews of Mount Sinai Friendship United, who is also one of the FSS creators, said “The FSS program has been a tremendous success with literally thousands of fugitives taking the opportunity to clear up their outstanding warrants, stop looking over their shoulders and move forward with their lives.”
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Administrative and Presiding Judge Brendan Sheehan added, “This partnership between law enforcement and community leaders is a unique opportunity for those with outstanding Cuyahoga County warrants to deal with them and be able to move forward with their lives. I have witnessed this first-hand as a Judge within this program.”
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