MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — If you have an outstanding warrant for a nonviolent misdemeanor, the City of Mobile may have a way for you to take care of it without the risk of being arrested.
The City of Mobile legal department is hosting a free warrant clinic on May 18th.
According to a city spokesperson, there are over 21,000 people that have active warrants with the mobile municipal court since 2015. Many of those people have traffic-related warrants.
Deputy city attorney Suntrease Williams-Maynard says this event will allow people to have a fun time and take care of business.
"The goal of it is to reduce the backlog, looking at the number of warrants,” said Williams-Maynard. “Also to bring our courts to the communities. So hopefully we can also minimize any type of negative stereotyping or perceptions with our court. "
It will be a casual atmosphere. There will be childcare, food, music, and entertainment.
"We're making it in a way so that people can actually feel that it's accessible, whether they have to work or children,” said Williams-Maynard. “We don't want anything to be a barrier for them to participate."
Williams-Maynard says this event will be quite different from what you might expect.
"The judge is going to be in plain clothes, at a table, right across from the individuals,” she said. “So, this should be a win-win. Not only for our court system but also for our community at large."
Participants can come to this event without the fear of being arrested or any intimidation.
"This is supposed to be where people see us,” said Williams-Maynard. “We are serving you and the community, and we're just like you."
The warrant clinic will be held at the Springhill Recreation Center from 11 to 3pm on Saturday May 18th.
Register for the event here: