subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Mon, Nov 09 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


Jefferson County Sheriff Department’s Brent Weaver discusses the specifics of Operation Fresh Start and his hopes for the programs success during a press conference at the H.O.P.E Center in Port Arthur Wednesday afternoon.
MIKE TOBIAS / The Port Arthur News


Published July 23, 2008 10:37 pm - WHO: Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Port Arthur HOPE, community organizations, churches
WHAT: Operation Fresh Start - Safe Surrender
WHEN: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., July 28 - July 30
WHERE: 1645 Jefferson Drive, near Walgreens and Memorial High School
WHY: To help people with misdemeanor warrants get ‘fresh start’ in their lives


Opportunities available at Operation Fresh Start


By Amy Moore
The Port Arthur News

PORT ARTHUR

Click play to hear Wednesday's Operation Fresh Start Press Conference:

Criminals looking for redemption will soon have an opportunity to get their lives on track with a ‘fresh start.’

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, several churches and community organizations will host Operation Fresh Start- Safe Surrender at the end of the month to provide people with misdemeanor warrants a chance to turn themselves in.

“The program basically is about (people) getting a fresh start and taking responsibility for their actions, doing the right thing, turning themselves in to law enforcement if they have an active misdemeanor arrest warrant,” Brent Weaver, assistant to Sheriff Mitch Woods said. “Then after their warrant has been dealt with and their judicial situation has been dealt with, we’ve brought in community outreach groups to work with individuals for educational counseling, job assistance and job placement.”

The program has been successful in other areas, even without the community outreach involvement, Weaver said but he hopes that by offering assistance more individuals will participate.

It’s important to note, however, that the program is in no way a “get of jail free card.”

“I stress this is not an amnesty program,” Weaver said during a press conference Wednesday. “Depending on their judicial situation or warrant situation, it may require them to remain in custody and not be eligible for release.”

During the three-day event, if a person surrenders to police the person will be screened for active warrants and transported to the county jail to be booked. If the person meets requirements for release, that person will be released. After being released, they’ll be transported back to the surrender site for assistance.

“Our goal is hopefully they will utilize those services and we won’t see them come back in our jail,” Weaver said.

Tisha Armstead of Port Arthur H.O.P.E. said before people can move on with their lives, they have to take responsibility for their actions.

“Anything that we do in life, it’s accountability. It’s the choices we make and that’s what we talk to our young people about is the choices you make that could affect you in the long run,” she said.

Both Weaver and Armstead stressed that no organization will pay for warrants or bond for individuals who turn themselves in. Nor will child care be provided at the event.

Weaver believes that Operation Fresh Start is a way to have “a successful community re-entry back into society.”



print this story    email this story   






autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

Put your business here!
Your ad detail would go here call 409-721-2440 for more information....>MORE

See all ads

Premium Autos

Advertise your Auto business here now!
Advertise your Auto business here now with our new premiere text ads.. Contact a Sales rep today at 409-721-2440....>MORE

See all ads

Premium Homes

Advertise your Real Estate business here now!
Advertise your Real Estate business here now with our premiere text ads. Contact a sales rep today at 409-721-2440...>MORE

Fully Furnished Apartments! CORPORATE HOUSING INC. 1-877-439-3322
CORPORATE HOUSING INC.
Serving Southeast Texas for 17 years! Fully Furnished Apartments. Linens & Housewares, All U
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Extras

Lease with US!
LEASE WITH US AND RECEIVE
FREE ELECTRICITY!
1, 2 and 3 Bedrooms Available.
Fully Applianced. Laundromat
...>MORE

Reliable Handyman Here!
RELIABLE HANDYMAN
Home remodeling & maintenance. Drywall, painting, carpentry, pressure washing, etc.
Over 18
...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index