District 1 Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold posted this event in her letter to constituents:
Seattle Municipal Court will be at the Delridge Community Center tomorrow, Friday, November 30th, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. to help resolve warrants, share options for addressing unpaid tickets, provide relicensing assistance or a referral to a public defender. They’ll also help people access supportive services through the Court Resource Center. No appointment is required.
A press release from the City Attorney notes that “warrant holders can set a future court date there and won’t face arrest. No prosecutors will be present at this Court-sponsored event.”
Having outstanding warrants make it harder to move forward in life. Attendees will learn their options to resolve SMC warrants in a welcoming, community-based location. Individuals with unpaid tickets will learn options to resolve their tickets through a payment plan or community service plan and how to regain their driver’s license. Court staff will answer questions about court processes, schedule hearings, and provide information on resources and support services available through the court.
Attendees will be able to access social services onsite including: DSHS benefits (food, cash, medical), referral for a vision exam and eye glass vouchers, Orca Lift reduced fare and other transportation passes, chemical dependency and mental health assistance, basic needs and referrals for other support services. Court partner organizations onsite for the event include: Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Public Health – Seattle and King County, Navos and the YWCA.
Anyone who needs assistance is encouraged to attend Friday, November 30th, 2018, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106.
The event flyer is available in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Khmer here: http://www.seattle.gov/courts/programs-and-services/court-resource-center.
This is a collaboration between the Seattle Municipal Court, King County Department of Public Defense, Seattle City Attorney’s Office, Seattle Police Department, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and the Seattle Human Services Department.
The City Attorney’s press release notes City officials filed a motion to dismiss over 200 outstanding warrants for low-level non-violent misdemeanors that occurred 5-22 years ago, to allow law enforcement to focus on more serious, violent offenses.
